Project tools
Curtain terminology glossary: fabric, wallcovering and rug terms in English and Vietnamese
This curtain terminology glossary defines 100 terms used on interior projects across window treatments, fabric, wallcoverings, rugs, lighting and procurement. Each entry gives the English term, the Vietnamese equivalent and a one-sentence definition, so designers, PMs, QS teams and suppliers read specifications, BOQs and sample approvals the same way.
Key takeaways
- Fullness is the ratio of flat fabric width to track width, typically 2–2.5x for pleated headings and 1.5–2x for eyelet curtains.
- Hook drop is the distance from the hook position to the hem and is the dimension a workroom needs for track-hung curtains.
- Railroading turns a wide-width fabric sideways so tall curtains can be made without vertical seams.
- A dye lot is a quantity of fabric dyed at the same time; separate lots can vary slightly in shade, so check the lot number on the label at receipt.
- Inherently flame-retardant fabric keeps its performance after washing, while FR-treated fabric can lose effectiveness with repeated washing.
Why do projects need a shared bilingual glossary?
A shared glossary cuts ordering errors, because the same word can mean different things to a workroom, a designer and a buyer. “Curtain width”, for example, may refer to track width, flat fabric width or finished width.
Project documents in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia often mix English and local-language terms, especially on hotels with international operators. The terms below are grouped by category and can be attached to a specification package as an appendix.
- Agree the terms with suppliers at project kick-off.
- Use the measurement terms on curtain shop drawings.
- Use the exact English term when checking catalogues and test certificates.
When quote requests on SEAMATER use the same vocabulary, item descriptions in the project documents and in the quotation line up.
What do curtain measurement and fixing terms mean?
These terms describe curtain size and position; they are a common source of error in site surveys and BOQ lines.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Drop | Chiều cao rèm | The vertical distance from the suspension point (track or pole) to the bottom edge of the curtain. |
| Finished length | Chiều dài thành phẩm | The length of the made-up curtain, measured from the top of the heading to the hem. |
| Finished width | Chiều rộng thành phẩm | The width of one made-up curtain panel, flat or as hung on the track depending on the workroom's convention. |
| Fullness | Độ dồn (hệ số vải) | The ratio of flat fabric width to track width; typically 2–2.5x for pleated headings and around 1.5–2x for eyelet. |
| Stackback | Khoảng xếp rèm | The width the curtain occupies when fully open; planned so the stack does not cover glass or a doorway. |
| Return | Vạt quay đầu | The part of the curtain that turns from the front face back to the wall at the end of the track, closing the light gap. |
| Leading edge | Mép dẫn | The moving edge of a curtain, where two panels meet when closed. |
| Overlap | Phần chồng mí | The section where two panels cross at the centre of the track to block light. |
| Overhang (extension) | Phần ray vượt ô cửa | The length of track that extends past the window opening on each side, typically about 15–20 cm, more where the stackback is large. |
| Reveal (recess) | Lòng ô cửa | The inner wall faces of a window opening, which decide whether a treatment fits inside or outside the recess. |
| Soffit | Mặt dưới lanh tô/dầm | The underside of a lintel, beam or ceiling to which a track is fixed. |
| Sill | Bậu cửa sổ | The horizontal ledge at the bottom of a window, used as the reference for sill-length curtains. |
| Hook drop | Khoảng móc đến lai | The distance from the hook position on the heading tape to the hem, used when ordering curtains for a track. |
| Upstand | Phần nhô đầu rèm | The part of the heading that rises above the hook point to hide the track. |
| Ceiling pocket | Hộc rèm | A recess in a gypsum ceiling that houses the track and motor; its depth and width must be fixed before the ceiling is closed. |
| Pelmet | Hộp che ray | A rigid box of timber or upholstered board above the curtain that conceals the track. |
| Valance | Diềm rèm | A soft fabric band hung above the curtain to hide the track and add detail. |
| Holdback | Móc vén | A rigid wall-mounted fitting that holds an open curtain back. |
| Tieback | Dây vén | A fabric band, cord or tassel that wraps around a curtain to hold it open. |
| Floor clearance | Khe hở sàn | The gap between hem and finished floor, typically about 1–1.5 cm for a just-clear finish; 0–0.5 cm for a kiss finish and 5–15 cm for a puddle. |
| Track | Ray rèm | A rail, usually aluminium, with runners to hang and draw curtains; straight, bendable and motorised versions exist. |
| Pole (rod) | Thanh treo | A decorative round rod on brackets, with curtains hung from rings or eyelets. |
What are the terms for headings, linings and operating systems?
The heading sets fullness, track type and stackback. See curtain heading types and the hardware each needs for detail.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Heading | Đầu rèm | The top of the curtain, which sets the fold style and how it attaches to the track or pole. |
| Pencil pleat | Đầu rèm ly bút chì | A heading with tight, narrow gathers formed by pulling cords in the heading tape. |
| Pinch pleat (triple pleat) | Đầu rèm ly ba | A heading sewn into evenly spaced groups of three pleats. |
| Double pinch pleat | Đầu rèm ly đôi | A heading sewn into groups of two pleats, giving a softer fall than triple pleat. |
| Goblet pleat | Đầu rèm ly chén | A heading with cup-shaped pleats, often padded to hold their round form. |
| Eyelet | Rèm ore (rèm khoen) | A curtain with metal or plastic rings set into the heading, threaded directly onto a pole. |
| Wave (ripplefold) | Rèm sóng | A curtain on a dedicated track with fixed carrier spacing, producing an even S-shaped wave. |
| Tab top | Rèm quai | A curtain with fabric loops along the top, threaded over a pole. |
| Buckram | Keo dựng đầu rèm | A stiffened strip sewn inside the heading to hold pleats upright. |
| Lining | Lớp lót | A fabric layer sewn behind the face fabric to protect it from sun, improve drape and hide seams. |
| Interlining (bump) | Lớp lót giữa | A soft, thick layer between face fabric and lining that adds body and drape and gives some thermal and acoustic benefit. |
| Blackout lining | Lót cản sáng | A coated lining that blocks almost all light passing through the curtain. |
| Dimout | Lót giảm sáng | A fabric or lining that cuts a large share of light but does not block it fully like blackout. |
| Sheer (voile) | Rèm voan | A light, translucent fabric used to filter sun and give daytime privacy. |
| Roman blind | Rèm roman | A fabric blind that folds up into horizontal pleats using battens and cords at the back. |
| Roller blind | Rèm cuốn | A single panel of fabric that rolls around a tube at the head. |
| Zebra blind (day-night blind) | Rèm cầu vồng | A double-layer roller blind with alternating solid and mesh bands that adjust light by offsetting the bands. |
| Headrail | Thanh đầu rèm | The metal rail at the top of a roman, roller or venetian blind that holds the operating mechanism. |
| Sidewinder (chain drive) | Cơ cấu kéo xích | A clutch at the end of a roller tube, operated by a bead chain. |
| Cleat | Móc quấn dây | A wall fitting for winding cords out of children's reach, typically fixed at least about 150 cm above the floor (EN 13120 and ANSI/WCMA A100.1 as references). |
| Curtain motor | Động cơ rèm | An electric drive that runs a curtain track or turns a blind tube; mains-powered and rechargeable battery versions exist. |
Which fabric terms matter when reading a specification?
Width and pattern terms drive fabric quantity; see how to calculate curtain fabric quantity. Durability ratings are covered in Martindale and choosing interior fabric.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric width | Khổ vải | The roll width from selvedge to selvedge; common widths are around 140 cm, with wide-width fabrics around 280–320 cm. |
| Railroading | Quay khổ vải | Turning a wide-width fabric sideways so the drop runs across the roll width, allowing long panels without seams. |
| Selvedge | Biên vải | The tightly woven edges along both sides of a roll that stop the fabric fraying. |
| Vertical pattern repeat | Bước lặp hoa văn dọc | The distance along the roll between two identical points of the pattern. |
| Horizontal pattern repeat | Bước lặp hoa văn ngang | The distance across the width between two identical points of the pattern. |
| Straight match | Khớp hoa thẳng | A pattern that matches at the same height on adjacent fabric widths or wallpaper drops. |
| Half-drop match | Khớp hoa so le | A pattern that matches when the next width or drop is shifted down by half a repeat, which increases cutting waste. |
| Martindale (rub count) | Chỉ số Martindale | The number of abrasion cycles a fabric withstands before failure in the Martindale abrasion test. |
| Pilling | Xù lông | Small balls of fibre forming on the fabric surface through friction; usually graded on a 1–5 scale. |
| Colourfastness | Độ bền màu | A fabric's ability to keep its colour under light, rubbing or washing, rated on standard grey or blue wool scales. |
| Back-coating | Tráng lưng | A coating on the back of a fabric that adds stability, prevents fraying or carries a flame-retardant finish. |
| Inherently flame retardant (IFR) | Vải chống cháy bản chất | Fabric whose flame resistance is built into the fibre and is not lost through washing. |
| FR treated | Vải xử lý chống cháy | Fabric soaked or coated with a flame-retardant chemical after weaving; the effect can reduce after washing. |
| Fibre content (composition) | Thành phần sợi | The percentage of each fibre in a fabric, for example 70% polyester, 30% linen. |
| Fabric weight (GSM) | Định lượng vải | The mass of fabric per square metre, in g/m². |
| Dye lot (batch) | Lô nhuộm | A quantity of fabric dyed at the same time; separate lots can vary slightly in shade. |
| Shrinkage | Độ co rút | The change in fabric dimensions after washing or exposure to humidity, expressed as a percentage. |
| Metamerism | Hiện tượng lệch màu theo nguồn sáng | Two materials that match under one light source but differ under another. |
What are the key wallcovering and decor film terms?
The substrate decides the hanging method, humidity tolerance and how the wallcovering strips. Compare options in types of wallcoverings.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Non-woven wallpaper | Giấy dán tường nền không dệt | Wallpaper on a non-woven fibre base that is dimensionally stable, usually hung paste-the-wall and strippable dry. |
| Vinyl wallcovering | Giấy dán tường vinyl | A wallcovering with a PVC surface that withstands cleaning but is less breathable than non-woven. |
| Type I / Type II commercial vinyl | Vinyl thương mại Type I / Type II | US classification of commercial vinyl by weight and durability; Type I for light-traffic areas, Type II for corridors and public areas. |
| Fabric-backed vinyl | Vinyl nền vải | Vinyl laminated to a woven or non-woven fabric base, impact resistant and common in hotels and offices. |
| Grasscloth | Giấy sợi cói | A wallcovering of hand-woven plant fibres on a paper base; seams and shade differences between drops are usually visible. |
| Paste-the-wall | Quét keo lên tường | An installation method where adhesive is applied to the wall rather than to the back of the paper. |
| Cross lining (lining paper) | Giấy lót nền | A plain paper hung horizontally before the finish layer to even the surface and avoid aligned seams. |
| Primer (sealer) | Sơn lót tường | A base coat that evens out wall absorbency and makes future stripping easier. |
| Roll size | Khổ cuộn | The dimensions of one roll; the European standard is about 0.53 × 10.05 m; a common wide roll in Vietnam is about 1.06 × 15.6 m; contract vinyl is typically about 1.30–1.37 m wide. |
| Batch (shade) number | Số lô sản xuất | The code on the roll label identifying the print run; check it against the delivery note on receipt. |
| Butt join | Mối nối giáp mí | Joining two drops edge to edge without overlapping. |
| Decorative (architectural) film | Film trang trí | A self-adhesive PVC or polyester film applied to doors, joinery or walls to change the surface without removal. |
Which rug terms should specifiers know?
Construction determines durability, production time and cleaning. Apply these terms with the rug buying guide.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-knotted rug | Thảm dệt tay thắt nút | A rug made by tying each knot by hand onto the warp; slow to produce and long-lasting. |
| Hand-tufted rug | Thảm tuft tay | A rug made by punching yarn into a backing cloth with a hand-held tufting gun, then glued to a secondary backing. |
| Flatweave | Thảm dệt phẳng | A pile-free rug with interlaced warp and weft, thin and light. |
| Kilim | Thảm kilim | A traditional flatweave with geometric patterns, often reversible. |
| Axminster | Thảm Axminster | A machine-woven carpet that allows many colours and complex patterns, widely used in hotels. |
| Pile height | Chiều cao sợi thảm | The height of the yarn above the backing, in mm. |
| Loop pile | Sợi vòng | Yarn left in uncut loops, giving a firm surface that shows fewer footprints. |
| Cut pile | Sợi cắt | Yarn with the loops cut, giving a softer, smoother surface. |
| Knot density | Mật độ nút | The number of knots per unit area in a hand-knotted rug, which affects pattern definition. |
| Underlay (rug pad) | Lót thảm | A pad laid under a rug to stop slipping, add comfort and reduce wear. |
How do you read decorative lighting data?
Decorative fixtures are described by optical data and protection rating; state each one in the spec to avoid mismatched light colour between areas.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| CCT (Kelvin) | Nhiệt độ màu | The colour of white light in kelvin; around 2,700–3,000 K reads warm and 4,000 K neutral. |
| CRI (Ra) | Chỉ số hoàn màu | How faithfully a light source renders object colours compared with a reference source, on a scale up to 100. |
| IP rating | Cấp bảo vệ IP | A two-digit code under IEC 60529 describing a fixture's protection against dust and water. |
| Lumen (lm) | Quang thông | The total quantity of light emitted by a source. |
| Beam angle | Góc chiếu | The spread of the light beam, which decides whether coverage is wide or narrow. |
| Dimming | Điều chỉnh độ sáng | The ability to lower light output; lamp, driver and control must be compatible. |
Which procurement and documentation terms are used on projects?
These terms are used between design, purchasing and suppliers from sample approval to ordering.
| English term | Vietnamese | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| BOQ (bill of quantities) | Bảng khối lượng | A schedule of items, descriptions, units and quantities used for pricing and cost control. |
| FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) | Nội thất rời, thiết bị | Movable items not fixed to the structure: furniture, curtains, rugs, decorative lighting and accessories. |
| Lead time | Thời gian đặt hàng | The time from order confirmation to goods being ready for delivery. |
| MOQ (minimum order quantity) | Số lượng đặt tối thiểu | The minimum quantity a manufacturer will accept for one item. |
| Swatch | Mẫu nhỏ | A small cutting of material used for initial selection and design presentations. |
| Memo sample | Mẫu memo | A sample larger than a swatch, enough to show the pattern repeat, often returnable. |
| Memo sample | Mẫu lớn | A large sample covering at least one full pattern repeat, used to judge pattern scale and drape. |
| Mock-up | Phòng mẫu | A fully fitted trial space or item used for overall approval before roll-out. |
| Spec sheet | Bảng thông số kỹ thuật | A document stating the code, dimensions, materials, finishes and standards for one item. |
| Mock-up room | Phòng mẫu | A fully fitted sample room approved by the owner and operator before roll-out. |
| Material submittal | Hồ sơ trình duyệt vật liệu | A package of samples, catalogue pages and certificates sent to the consultant or owner for approval. |
Frequently asked questions
What does fullness mean for curtains?
Fullness is the ratio between the flat width of fabric and the width of the track. Pleated headings typically use 2 to 2.5 times fullness, eyelet curtains around 1.5 to 2 times, and wave curtains around 2 to 2.2 times, depending on the carrier spacing of the track system. Higher fullness gives deeper folds and uses more fabric.
What is a ceiling pocket for curtains?
A ceiling pocket is a recess built into a gypsum ceiling to hide the curtain track and motor. In Vietnam it is called hộc rèm. Its depth, width and power location should be shown on drawings before the ceiling is closed, because changing it later means reopening finished work.
What is railroading in curtain making?
Railroading means turning a wide-width fabric, typically around 280 to 320 cm, so the curtain drop runs across the roll width. Wide panels can then be made without vertical seams. It works only when the drop is shorter than the fabric width and the design can be turned sideways.
What is the difference between blackout and dimout?
Blackout fabric or lining is coated to stop almost all light and is used in bedrooms and hotel guestrooms. Dimout cuts a large share of light but lets some through, which suits living areas or offices that need softer light rather than darkness. Light can still enter around the curtain edges in both cases.
What is a dye lot and why can shade vary?
A dye lot is a quantity of fabric dyed in one batch. Separate lots can differ slightly in shade because temperature, dyestuff and raw material vary between batches. Project teams should record the lot number on the delivery note and check it against the label when goods are received.
What Martindale rating is needed for commercial projects?
Martindale counts the abrasion cycles a fabric withstands. As a typical guide, domestic upholstery sits around 15,000 to 30,000 cycles, contract seating above 30,000, and hotel public areas commonly 40,000 or more. Below 15,000 suits curtains, cushions and occasional-use pieces, where abrasion is low.
Quote requests on SEAMATER that use these terms are easier to price against the BOQ and need fewer rounds of clarification.
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