Bao bì là rác tái chế.

The packaging is recyclable waste.

Breakdown of Bao bì là rác tái chế.

• là: to be
• rác tái chế: recyclable waste
• bao bì: packaging

Questions & Answers about Bao bì là rác tái chế.

What does bao bì mean here?

Bao bì means packaging or packaging materials.

It usually refers to the material or outer wrapping/container used to contain or protect a product, such as:

• boxes
• wrappers
• plastic packaging
• cartons
• labels and outer packs

Compared with English, bao bì is a fairly broad term. Depending on context, it can mean either:

• packaging in general as a category, or
• pieces of packaging / packaging waste

So in this sentence, it is best understood as packaging in the general sense.

Why is là used here?

Là is the Vietnamese word used to link one noun phrase to another, similar to is / are in English when identifying or classifying something.

Structure here:

• Bao bì = packaging
• là = is
• rác tái chế = recyclable waste / recyclables

So the sentence has the pattern:

• A là B = A is B

This is very common when saying what something is, what category it belongs to, or how it is classified.

Examples:

• Đây là sách. = This is a book.
• Nhựa là rác tái chế. = Plastic is recyclable waste.

Does bao bì mean singular or plural?