In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) glass that comes in thinnish, flattish sheets (as opposed to, for example, a thick block or a globular shape), used to make doors, windows, eyewear, lenses, etc.; compare thuỷ tinh (“glass as a substance in general”)
Examples
kính làm bằng thuỷ tinh"sheet glass" is made of "glass"
Không có kính không phải vì xe không có kính,
Bom giật, bom rung kính vỡ đi rồi.
Ung dung buồng lái ta ngồi,
Nhìn đất, nhìn trời, nhìn thẳng.Those windshieldless trucks didn't come without windshields,
They're not there 'cause of bombardment shockwaves.
Calmly, we sit in the driver's seat
As we look at the ground, at the sky, and straight ahead.
Tôi để quên kính ở nhà rồi.I left my glasses at home.
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) eyeglasses
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(noun) synonym of gương (“mirror”)
Where it’s used:UsedMiền Nam · Southern Vietnam• Wiktionary labels this sense “Southern”
Sense 4
Meaning · English
(verb) to respect
Examples
kính trên, nhường dướito respect the elderly and consider the young
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “kính” mean?
(noun) glass that comes in thinnish, flattish sheets (as opposed to, for example, a thick block or a globular shape), used to make doors, windows, eyewear, lenses, etc.; compare thuỷ tinh (“glass as a substance in general”)
Is “kính” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.