ONE WORD A DAY BLOG
Learn Vietnamese culture and history through stories and insights centred around a daily word
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Hotels in Vietnamese – “Nhà Nghỉ” vs “Khách Sạn”
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Learn the pronunciation, meaning, and crucial differences between hotels (*khách sạn*) vs. motels (*nhà nghỉ*) in Vietnam
How to Pronounce “Ng” in Vietnamese? Audio & Trick
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The “ng” sound (ŋ) is not an n-sound, nor a g-sound. In English, it occurs at the end of “-ing” words, like running, talking, and writing. If you listen…
What Does Vietnam Mean in English?
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“Việt Nam” means “People of the South”, where “south” is in reference to the South-East Asian continent, especially south of China. Nam is likely of Chinese origin from “Annam”…
Phở is Not Just “Fuh”- Correct Pronunciation in Vietnamese [AUDIO]
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Phở can be Anglicized to “phuh”. But, ở must be spoken with a peculiar pitch-dynamic: it first descends, then rises. If not done correctly, you may say something…
Meaning of “Anh ơi” in Vietnamese
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“Anh ơi” means “Hey, excuse me Mister”, but only for males with 15 years of your age. Vietnamese has complex pronoun rules based on age.
How to say “Expensive!” in Vietnamese
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If you are a foreigner shopping in Vietnam, you are guaranteed to be quoted outrageously prices. You need to learn this simple phrase
How to say “Please excuse me” in Vietnamese
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The way to say “I am sorry” is “Xin lỗi”. However, it can’t be used in the same way as in English — learn more about Vietnamese manners.
What does “Chùa” mean in Vietnamese?
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Chùa is a Buddhist place of worship (i.e., a Pagoda). They can be ancient places, or carnival-esque amusement parks. However, “Chúa” means Jesus Christ.
How to say “How are you doing today?” in Vietnamese?
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“Ăn com chưa?” literally means “have you eaten yet?”, but what Vietnamese friends really mean is “How are you doing?”
Why is everyone yelling “Em ơi!” in Vietnam and what does it mean?
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If you sit in any cafe, you will hear shouts of “Em ơi!” every few minutes. It is the tip of the iceberg of an entire system of politeness…
What does “Xe Om” mean in Vietnamese
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Xe om means “hold on” to a driver as you ride on their motorbike. It is also the best way for tourists to get around cities and rural areas.
What does “Người” mean in Vietnamese?
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Người means “people”, but it also functions like the English suffix “-er” when attached to a verb (e.g., driver).
How do you say “fish” in Vietnamese?
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Fish is “cá” in Vietnamese (pronounced like ga). But “cá” also includes some marine mammals, such as the “Pig Fish”…
What Does “Du Ma” Mean in Vietnamese?
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“Đụ má” is a serious expletive in Vietnamese, equivalent to “f you” in English. It is to “địt mẹ” as “f you” is to “f**k you”.
How do you say Boyfriend/Girlfriend in Vietnamese?
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There are many Vietnamese words that signify “romantic partners”. Bạn gái is girl friend, while Bạn trai is boyfriend.
Phô Mai vs Fromage: Vietnamese Words with French Origins
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There are several interesting lessons in the “pho mát vs fromage” phenomenon that can help you learn the Vietnamese accent.
What does Quần mean in Vietnamese?
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Quần is an example of overloading in Vietnamese: it means both “pants” as well as underwear, shorts, overalls and more
How to Properly Pronounce Nguyễn in Vietnamese
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Nguyễn can be anglicized to “win/when”, with an upward-pitch at the end, but the correct pronunciation is nearly impossible for foreigners, unless you learn this trick.
What does “nước” mean in Vietnamese?
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Nước means anything liquidy, from drinking water (nước) to the sauce for bánh hỏi. As a traveller in Vietnam, you must know nước mía.
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