chi mà
A gentle Central push-back meaning "what for?" or "why even bother?" — softens a disagreement into a shrug rather than a challenge.
Tiếng Việt · Huế / Đà Nẵng & the Center 1907
All languages English Tiếng Việt
Where will you be? Anywhere Hà Nội & the NorthHuế / Đà Nẵng & the CenterSài Gòn & the SouthOnline slang Bắc ↔ Nam words
Sayings you’ll hear in Central Vietnam — distinctly Central usage first, then nationwide staples.
chi rứa
Central Vietnamese for "what's that? / what's going on?" — the surprised question you hear across Huế and Quảng where standard speech says "gì vậy".
có chi đâu
The warm Central way to wave off thanks or praise — "it's nothing, really". Standard Vietnamese says "có gì đâu"; the "chi" marks the speaker as Central.
không có chi
you are welcome; no problem
khổ rứa
A Central sigh of sympathy or complaint — "that's rough" / "poor thing". "Rứa" is Central for "vậy", so this is the regional twin of "khổ vậy".
làm chi
Central Vietnamese "what are you doing?" or rhetorical "why even?" — same grammar as standard "làm gì" with the Central "chi".
làm răng
Central Vietnamese for "how? / what to do?" — "răng" is the Central question word for "sao", so this asks how something happened or how to handle it.
mô tê răng rứa
The four famous Central question words strung together — mô (where), tê (there), răng (why/how), rứa (like that) — used nationwide as playful shorthand for "full-on Central dialect I can't follow".
mần chi
Rural Central–Southern "doing what?" — "mần" is the folksy pronunciation of "làm" (to do), giving the question a countryside warmth.
mệt rứa
A Central groan of weariness — "so tiring / what a drag". The "rứa" turns an ordinary complaint into unmistakably Central speech.
nói chi
Central Vietnamese "say what?" — either a genuine "what did you say?" or a mild "what are you even saying", depending on tone.
răng mà
Central Vietnamese "how come...?" — opens a puzzled or reproachful question the way standard speech uses "sao mà".
răng rứa
The Central "what's up? / how come?" — a two-word bundle of the region's question words, equivalent to standard "sao vậy".
ăn chi chưa
The everyday Central-Vietnamese hello: literally asking whether you have eaten yet, but really just a warm way of checking in — the expected answer is a smile, not a menu.
đi mô
Central Vietnamese for "where are you going?" — "mô" is the region's word for "đâu" (where), one of the signature Central function words.
nghe rứa
Central acknowledgment meaning "got it / so I heard" — the regional coloring of "nghe vậy" or "nghe rồi".
rứa đó
Central wrap-up phrase: "that's how it is / that's all there is to it" — closes an explanation the way standard speech says "vậy đó".
A Di Đà Phật
clipping of Nam mô A Di Đà Phật
ai bảo
Used to explain and blame someone for a bad thing that happened to them.
ai khảo mà xưng
to disclose something (especially secrets) unprompted
ai mượn
Used to blame someone for doing something that should not have been done.
ai đời
Used to emphasize something considered contrary to the natural order or common sense: by no means
am thanh cảnh vắng
the tranquil and desolate scenery in Buddhist temples
an bần lạc đạo
to be contented with living in poverty and take delight in abiding by moral principles
an cư lạc nghiệp
to live in peace and work happily
an giấc nghìn thu
synonym of yên giấc nghìn thu
an giấc ngàn thu
synonym of yên giấc nghìn thu
an khang thịnh vượng
Wish you security, good health and prosperity. (a common wish for Tết)
an phận thủ thường
to be contend with current situation; to resign oneself to mediocrity; to stop striving for greatness
an toàn là trên hết
safety first
anh chột làm vua xứ mù
a mediocre person without any special qualities who stands out only because they are surrounded by people worse than them; in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
anh em cây khế
someone who badmouths or even goes out of their way to harm their siblings or friends who has a brotherly bond with them
anh em thúc bá
cousins from the paternal side (uncle's and father's side)
anh hùng hào kiệt
a person with talent, courage, and outstanding acts, a hero
anh hùng khó qua ải mĩ nhân
even the strongest warrior can be seduced by a beautiful woman
anh hùng không có đất dụng võ
a skilled person with no opportunity to use their talents
anh hùng mạt lộ
a talented person with big ambitions, stuck in a hopeless situation and unable to escape
anh hùng nghĩa hiệp
a selfless person, willing to risk their life to help others
anh hùng nhất khoảnh
a person who sees themselves as the most talented and powerful in their field or area, untouchable by anyone
anh hùng tương ngộ
heroes or talented people encountering each other
anh iu
Texting-cute spelling of “anh yêu” — darling (to a man), keyboard-softened.
anh yêu em
I love you (man to woman)
atsm
Texting shortcut for “ảo tưởng sức mạnh” — delusionally overconfident about one’s own abilities.
ba ba ấp bóng
doing something that is futile and pointless
ba cái
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ba, cái.
ba mươi chưa phải là Tết
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ba mươi, chưa, phải, là, Tết.
ba que xỏ lá
cheating and caddish; wicked and malicious; deceitful; roguish
bao gồm cả ba bữa ăn
to include all three meals; full board
biết rồi, khổ lắm, nói mãi
I get it! Quit your nagging!
biết thì thưa thốt, không biết thì dựa cột mà nghe
if you know about something, do talk about it, if you don't, lean back on a pillar and listen
biết thế
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see biết, thế.
bn
initialism of bao nhiêu
bt
Texting shortcut with two readings: “biết” (to know) or “bình thường” (normal, meh) — context decides.
bu lông và đai ốc
nuts and bolts
buôn dưa lê
to shoot the breeze; to chew the fat; to gossip
bà Mụ nặn nhầm
something must have gone wrong when the Midwife got this child out of their mother
bác sĩ nắn chỉnh cột sống
chiropractor
bách chiến bách thắng
"Fight a hundred battles, win all those hundred"; to win every fight; to be ever-victorious
bách phát bách trúng
the person in question is a highly skilled marksman and they almost never miss
bán chạy như tôm tươi
to sell like hot cakes
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