gấu
[ɣəw˧˦]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) bear (large mammal of family Ursidae)
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Truyện gấu ăn trăngTale of the Bear Who Ate the Moon
Con gấu đang kiếm thức ăn trong rừng.The bear is looking for food in the forest.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(noun) date; romantic partner
Register: informal
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(adjective) bullylike; fierce
Register: informal
Sense 4
Meaning · English
(noun) hem; hemline
Register: informal
Sense 5
Meaning · English
One’s boyfriend or girlfriend — the classic internet-era pet word for a partner (“có gấu chưa?” = seeing anyone?).
Literally: Bear — big, warm, huggable.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Casual talk about relationships.
Register: informalConnotation: playful
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Origin
Mạng xã hội · Vietnamese internet culture
Sources & notes
Owner-contributed endearment collection (July 2026); curated editorially.
Common questions
What does “gấu” mean?
(noun) bear (large mammal of family Ursidae)
Is “gấu” formal or informal?
gấu is generally informal.