Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese, from hợp (合, "to link, to bind") and chất (質, "substance").

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [həːʔp̚˧ˀ˨ʔ ṯɕɜʔt̚˧ˀ˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [həːʔp̚˨ˀ˨ʔ ṯɕɜʔk̚˦˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [həːʔp̚˨ˀ˧ʔ c̻ɜʔk̚˦ˀ˥]