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Anatidae / Họ Vịt

鸭科 Yā kē * 雁鴨科 Yàn-yā kē * ガンカモ科 Gan-kamo ka

General names

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections are welcome.

The general Vietnamese word for 'duck' is Vịt. Wild ducks are known as Vịt trời 'wild duck' (scientifically referring specifically to Anas poecilorhyncha) or Vịt nước 'water duck'.

Several other names are used for teals and other ducks, including Chim két, Mòng két, Ba kiếm, Le, Le le, or Le te.

According to dictionaries, Ngan refers to a domesticated type of duck, somewhat larger than an ordinary domestic duck, with a crest on its head. The Ngan yields reddish meat.

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is known as Uyên ương, a borrowing from Chinese 鴛鴦 yuān-yang. In Vietnam, as in China, the Mandarin duck is a conventional symbol of marital devotion due to its occurrence in mating pairs.

Wild geese are known as Ngỗng (sometimes Ngổng) in Vietnamese. Another name for wild geese is Hồng (from Chinese hóng). Domestic geese are known as Ngỗng, or more specifically Ngỗng nhà ('house/domestic geese').

In creating vernacular names, Vietnamese naturalists assign the names of anatid genera as follows:

Vietnamese name Subfamily / Genus
Le Dendrocygninae (whistling ducks) and Nettapus (Anatinae)
Ngỗng Anserinae (geese)
Vịt All members of the Anatinae (unless indicated otherwise) and Tadorninae
Ngan Asacornis
Uyên ương Aix
Mòng két Two species of Anas known as 'sarcelles' in French (Anas querquedela and Anas crecca)

Vietnamese has idioms involving ducks, including:

Như vịt nghe sấm 'like a duck listening to thunder' refers to 'stupefaction' or 'inability to understand a thing'.

Như nước đổ đầu vịt 'like pouring water on a duck's head' -- that is 'like water off a duck's back'.

Species names

› ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) ‹
DENDROCYGNINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Dendrocygna              
Dendrocygna javanica
link to photo
Lesser whistling duck
Lesser whistling-duck
Indian whistling duck
Lesser treeduck
Whistling teal
Dendrocygne siffleur
Le nâu
'brown teal/duck'
Chim le le
'teal/duck bird'
栗树鸭
lì shù-yā
'chestnut tree duck'
Taiwan:
樹鴨
shù-yā
'tree duck'
リュウキュウガモ
(琉球鴨)
Ryūkyū-gamo
'Ryukyu duck'
เป็ดแดง
bpèt-daeng
'red duck'
Belibis Kembang
'expanding ? treeduck'
Belibis Polos
'plain treeduck'
 
ANSERINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Anser              
Anser anser
link to photolink to photo
Greylag goose
Oie cendrée
Ngỗng trời
'sky goose' = 'wild goose'
  灰雁
huī yàn
'grey goose'
Taiwan:
灰雁
huī yàn
'grey goose'
ハイイロガン
(灰色雁)
hai-iro gan
'grey-coloured goose'
ห่านเทาปากสีชมพู
hàan tao bpàak sĕe-chom-poo
'pink-billed grey goose'
  
Anser indicus
link to photolink to photo
Bar-headed goose
Oie à tête barrée
Ngỗng Ấn Độ
'Indian goose'
  斑头雁
bān-tóu yàn
'stripe-headed goose'
インドガン
(インド雁)
Indo gan
'Indian goose'
ห่านหัวลาย
hàan hŭa laai
'pattern-headed goose'
  
 
TADORNINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Sarkidiornis              
Sarkidiornis melanotos
link to photolink to photo
Comb duck
Nakta
Canard à bosse
Vịt mồng
'rainbow duck'
  瘤鸭
liú yā
'lump duck'
コブガモ
(瘤鴨)
kobu-gamo
'lump duck'
เป็ดหงส์
bpèt hŏng
'swan duck'
  
Tadorna              
Tadorna tadorna
link to photolink to photo
Common shelduck
Shelduck
Tadorne de Belon
Vịt khoang
'spotted duck'
  翘鼻麻鸭
qiáo-bí má-yā
'warped nose hemp duck'
Taiwan:
花鳧
huā fú
'flowery wild-duck'
ツクシガモ
(筑紫鴨)
tsukushi-gamo
'Kyushu duck'
เป็ดเชลดัก
bpèt chayn-dàk
'chayn-dak duck'
  
Tadorna ferruginea
link to photolink to photo
Ruddy shelduck
Tadorne casarca
Vịt vàng
'golden duck'
  赤麻鸭
chì má-yā
'red hemp duck'
Taiwan:
瀆鳧
dú fú
'ditch wild-duck'
アカツクシガモ
(赤筑紫鴨)
aka tsukushi-gamo
'red Kyushu duck'
เป็ดพม่า
bpèt pá-mâa
'Burma duck'
  
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
 
ANATINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Asacornis              
Asacornis scutulata
Cairina scutulata
link to photo
White-winged duck
White-winged wood duck
Canard à ailes blanches
Ngan cánh trắng
'white-winged ngan'
  白翅栖鸭
bái-chì qī-yā
'white-winged roosting duck'
ハジロモリガモ
(羽白森鴨)
ha-jiro mori-gamo
'white-winged wood duck'
เป็ดก่า
bpèt gàa
'gaa duck'
- Mentok Rimba
'jungle mentok
Aix              
Aix galericulata
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Mandarin duck
Mandarin
Canard mandarin
Uyên ương
(='yuan-yang')
  鸳鸯
yuān-yang
'yuan-yang'
Taiwan:
鴛鴦
yuān-yang
'yuan-yang'
オシドリ
(鴛鴦)
oshi-dori
'oshi bird' (written with the characters used to write the Chinese name)
เป็ดแมนดาริน
bpèt maen-daa-rin
'mandarin duck'
  
Nettapus              
Nettapus coromandelianus
link to photo
Cotton teal
or
Indian pygmy-goose
Cotton pygmy-goose
Anserelle de Coromandel
Le khoang cổ
'spotted neck teal'
  棉凫
mián fú
'cotton wild-duck'
Taiwan:
棉鴨
mián yā
'cotton duck'
ナンキンオシ
(南京鴛鴦)
Nankin oshi
'Nanjing oshi'
เป็ดคับแค
bpèt káp-kae
'kap-kae duck'
Itik Kapas
'cotton duck'
Angsa kerdil Kapas
'cotton pygmy goose'/
Trutu Hijau
'green trutu'
Anas              
Anas strepera
link to photolink to photo
Gadwall
Canard chipeau
Vịt cánh trắng
'white-winged duck'
  赤膀鸭
chì-bǎng yā
'red-winged duck'
Taiwan:
赤膀鴨
chì-bǎng yā
'red-winged duck'
オカヨシガモ
(丘葦鴨)
oka yoshi-gamo
'hill reed duck'
เป็ดเทาก้นดำ
bpèt tao gôn dam
'black-vented grey duck'
  
Anas falcata
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Falcated teal
or
Falcated duck
Canard à faucilles
Vịt lưỡi liềm
'sickle duck'
  罗纹鸭
luó-wén yā
'whorl-patterned duck'
Taiwan:
羅文鴨
luó-wén yā
'whorl-patterned duck'
ヨシガモ
(葦鴨)
yoshi-gamo
'reed duck'
เป็ดเปียหน้าเขียว
bpèt bpia nâa kĭeow
'green-fronted plaited duck'
  
Anas platyrhynchos
link to photolink to photo
Mallard
Canard colvert
Vịt cổ xanh
'green-necked duck'

Vịt mỏ vàng
'golden-billed duck' (13)
Vịt nước
'water duck'
Le le
'teal'
绿头鸭
lǜ-tóu yā
'green-headed duck'
Taiwan:
綠頭鴨
lǜ-tóu yā
'green-headed duck'
マガモ
(真鴨)
ma-gamo
'true duck'
เป็ดหัวเขียว
bpèt hŭa kĭeow
'green-headed duck'
  
Anas poecilorhyncha
Anas poecilorhynchus
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Spot-billed duck
Spotbill duck
Yellow-nib duck
Chinese spotbill
Canard à bec tacheté
Vịt trời
'sky duck' = 'wild duck'
  斑嘴鸭
bān-zuǐ yā
'spot-billed duck'
Taiwan:
花嘴鴨
huā-zuǐ yā
'flowery-billed duck'
カルガモ
(軽鴨)
karu-gamo
'light duck'
เป็ดเทา
bpèt tao
'grey duck'
  
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Anas clypeata
link to photolink to photo
Northern shoveller
Shoveller
Common shoveller
Red shoveller
Canard souchet
Vịt mỏ thìa
'spoon-billed duck'
  琵嘴鸭
pí-zuǐ yā
'spatula-billed duck'
Taiwan:
琵嘴鴨
pí-zuǐ yā
'spatula-billed duck'
ハシビロガモ
(嘴広鴨)
hashi-biro-gamo
'broad-billed duck'
เป็ดปากพลั่ว
bpèt bpàak plûa
'spade-billed duck'
Itik Paruh Sudu
'spoon-billed duck'
 
Anas acuta
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Northern pintail
Pintail
Canard pilet
Vịt mốc
'moc ? duck'
  针尾鸭
zhēn-wěi yā
'needle-tailed duck'
Taiwan:
尖尾鴨
jiān-wěi yā
'sharp-tailed duck'
オナガガモ
(尾長鴨)
o-naga-gamo
'long-tailed duck'
เป็ดหางแหลม
bpèt hăang lăem
'promontory-tailed duck'
Itik Ekor Runcing
'sharp-tailed duck'
Itik Ekor peniti
'pin-tailed duck'/
Itik Utara
'northern duck'
Anas querquedula
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Garganey
Sarcelle d'été
Mòng két mày trắng
'white-browed teal wild-duck'
  白眉鸭
bái-méi yā
'white-browed duck'
Taiwan:
白眉鴨
bái-méi yā
'white-browed duck'
シマアジ
(縞味, 島味)
shima-aji
'striped aji' (written 'striped flavour' or 'island flavour'. 味 'flavour' is used solely for pronunciation. Also written with the specially created character aji)
เป็ดลาย
bpèt laai
'patterned duck'
Itik Garganey
'garganey duck'
Itik Alis putih
'white-eyebrowed duck'/
Itik Jurai
'sequence? duck'
Anas formosa
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Baikal teal Vịt Bai can
'Baikal duck' (13)
  花脸鸭
huā-liǎn yā
'flowery-faced duck'
Taiwan:
巴鴨
bā yā
'snake-pattern duck'
トモエガモ
(巴鴨)
tomoe-gamo
'comma-pattern duck'
เป็ดเปียหน้าเหลือง
bpèt bpia nâa lĕuang
'yellow-fronted plaited duck'
  
Anas crecca
link to photolink to photo
Common teal
or
Green-winged teal
Teal
Sarcelle d'hiver
Mòng két
'teal wild-duck'
Chim két
'teal bird'
Ba kiếm mùa đông
'winter ba kiem'
绿翅鸭
lǜ-chì yā
'green-winged duck'
Taiwan:
小水鴨
xiǎo shuǐ-yā
'little water duck'
コガモ
(小鴨)
ko-gamo
'small duck'
เป็ดปีกเขียว
bpèt bpèek kĭeow
'green-winged duck'
Itik Teal
'teal duck'
 
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Aythya              
Aythya ferina
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Common pochard
Fuligule milouin
Vịt đầu đỏ
'red-headed duck'
  红头潜鸭
hóng-tóu qián-yā
'red-headed diving duck'
Taiwan:
紅頭潛鴨
hóng-tóu qián-yā
'red-headed diving duck'
Former Taiwan:
磯雁
jī-yàn
'rocky-shore goose'
ホシハジロ
(星羽白)
hoshi ha-jiro
'starred white-wing'
เป็ดโปช้าดหลังขาว
bpèt bpoh ?? kăao
  
Aythya baeri
link to photo
Baer's pochard
Fuligule de Baer
Vịt đầu đen
'black-headed duck'
  青头潜鸭
qīng-tóu qián-yā
'black-headed diving duck'
Taiwan:
青頭潛鴨
qīng-tóu qián-yā
'black-headed diving duck'
アカハジロ
(赤羽白)
aka ha-jiro
'red white-wing'
เป็ดดำหัวดำ
bpèt dam hŭa dam
'black-headed diving duck'
  
Aythya nyroca
link to photolink to photo
Ferruginous duck
Ferruginous pochard
White-eyed pochard
Fuligule nyroca
Vịt mặt trắng
'white-faced duck'
Vịt mắt trắng
'white-eyed duck'
(Found on some websites, e.g., here)
›Note‹
  白眼潜鸭
bái-yǎn qián-yā
'white-eyed diving duck'
Taiwan:
白眼潛鴨
bái-yǎn qián-yā
'white-eyed diving duck'
メジロガモ
(目白鴨, 眼白鴨)
me-jiro-gamo
'white-eyed duck'
เป็ดดำหัวสีน้ำตาล
bpèt dam hŭa sĕe-náam-dtaan
'brown-headed diving duck'
  
Aythya fuligula
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Tufted duck
Fuligule morillon
Vịt mào
'crested duck'
  凤头潜鸭
fèng-tóu qián-yā
'phoenix-headed diving duck'
Taiwan:
鳳頭潛鴨
fèng-tóu qián-yā
'phoenix-headed diving duck'
Former Taiwan:
澤鳧
zé-fú
'swamp wild-duck'
キンクロハジロ
(金黒羽白)
kin-kuro ha-jiro
'gold-black white-wing'
เป็ดเปีย
bpèt bpia
'plaited duck'
- Kambangan Hitam
'black kambangan
Aythya marila
link to photolink to photo
Greater scaup
Scaup duck
Scaup
Fuligule milouinan
Vịt biển
'sea duck'
  斑背潜鸭
bān-bèi qián-yā
'spotted-back diving duck'
Taiwan:
斑背潛鴨
bān-bèi qián-yā
'spotted-back diving duck'
Former Taiwan:
鈴鴨
líng-yā
'bell duck'
スズガモ
(鈴鴨)
suzu-gamo
'bell duck'
เป็ดดำหลังขาว
bpèt dam lăng kăao
'white diving duck'
  
Mergus              
Mergus squamatus
link to photo
Scaly-sided merganser
Chinese merganser
Harle de Chine
Vịt mỏ nhọn
'sharp-billed duck'
  中华秋沙鸭
Zhōng-huá qiūshā-yā
'Chinese autumn-sand duck'
Taiwan:
唐秋沙
táng qiūshā
'Chinese autumn-sand'
コウライアイサ
(高麗秋沙)
Kōrai aisa
'Korean aisa' written 'Korean autumn-sand'
เป็ดปากยาวข้างลาย
bpèt bpàak yaao kâang laai
'pattern-sided long-billed duck'
  
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian