Phòng

Phòng is a common Vietnamese noun meaning a room or chamber—a distinct enclosed space within a building designated for a specific purpose. It functions as a basic unit in architecture and interior design and is widely used in everyday language to describe the various spaces inside homes, offices, and public buildings.

The term originates from Sino-Vietnamese 房 (phòng) and appears in many compound nouns that name rooms by function. Common examples include phòng khách (living room), phòng ngủ (bedroom), phòng tắm (bathroom), phòng ăn (dining room), phòng học (study room), phòng khám (clinic), and phòng bệnh (hospital room). In real estate, descriptions often refer to the số phòng (number of rooms) and the diện tích của phòng (area of a room). In workplaces, phrases such as phòng làm việc (office) and phòng hội thảo (conference room) are typical.

In design and culture, the layout and quality of rooms reflect functional needs and social practices. Public areas are usually arranged for shared use, while private spaces emphasize rest and privacy. Building codes and standards influence minimum room sizes, lighting, ventilation, and accessibility. A room’s usability depends on layout, windows, insulation, and furnishings. Traditional Vietnamese homes also feature specialized spaces like phòng thờ (ancestral shrine room), underscoring how room designation relates to customs and daily life.