nhất canh trì, nhị canh viên, tam canh điền
first cultivate the pond, second cultivate the garden, third cultivate the paddy
Tiếng Việt · Huế / Đà Nẵng & the Center 1891
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.
nhất cử lưỡng tiện
to kill two birds with one stone
nhất cử nhất động
each and every move; every single action
nhất cự li, nhì tốc độ
first comes distance/proximity, second comes speed
nhất dáng, nhì da, thứ ba khuôn mặt
first a well-shaped figure, second smooth and clear skin, third a pretty face
nhất gái hơn hai, nhì trai hơn một
A husband who is two years older than the wife, or a wife one year older than the husband, is desirable.
nhất nam viết hữu, thập nữ viết vô
one boy means one, ten girls mean none
nhất ngôn ký xuất, tứ mã nan truy
a word once spoken cannot be taken back; a promise must be kept; a promise is a promise
nhất nhật vi sư, chung thân vi phụ
He who teaches you, even for a day, should be regarded as your father for the rest of your life.
nhất nước, nhì phân, tam cần, tứ giống
in order of priority for successful culture, water, manure/fertilizer, hard work, cultivars
nhất tiếu thiên kim
a beautiful woman's smile is extremely precious
nhất tiễn song điêu
to kill two birds with one stone
nhập gia tuỳ tục
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
nhập gia tuỳ tục, nhập giang tuỳ khúc
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
nhập gia tùy tục
Traditional tone placement spelling of nhập gia tuỳ tục.
nhặt lá đá ống bơ
overly curious in taking a crack at miscellaneous items, usually with no or little purpose
no bụng đói con mắt
His eyes are bigger than his belly.
nuôi ong tay áo
to protect or raise someone who could later betray or turn against you; to nourish a viper in one's bosom
NVCC
initialism of nhân vật cung cấp
nx
Texting shortcut for “nữa” — more / also. “j nx” = what else?
này kia khác nọ
this one here, that one there, something else and that other one
nói có sách, mách có chứng
Claims must be backed by sources and accusations by evidence — speak with proof.
nói dễ, làm khó
Easier said than done.
nói gì thì nói
anyway, anyhow, in any case, be that as it may, nevertheless
nói hươu nói vượn
to chat idly; to shoot the breeze
nói trước bước không qua
Close to the English saying: “Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. (Mr. B Lam).”.
nói đâu quên đấy
forgetful; blithe; having a tendency for things to go in one ear and out the other
núi cao còn có núi cao hơn
do not be smug about your achievements, as there are always people who do even better
năng nhặt chặt bị
pick up stuff without fail and you'll get a full bag in no time
nước chảy đá mòn
Close to the English saying: “Constant dripping wears the stone.”.
nước mắt cá sấu
crocodile tears
nước sông không phạm nước giếng
people should keep to themselves and mind their own business
nước đến chân mới nhảy
To put things off until the situation is urgent, and only act at the last possible moment.
nước đục thả câu
to fish in troubled waters
nắm thằng có tóc, không ai nắm kẻ trọc đầu
if you're gonna grab onto someone, grab onto one with hair, don't grab onto a bald one
nằm gai nếm mật
to undergo self-imposed hardships; to nurse vengeance
nếm mật nằm gai
to undergo self-imposed hardships; to nurse vengeance; to endure hardships to accomplish some ambition
nối gót
follow in someone's footsteps
nồi nào úp vung nấy
Every person has a fitting match — said of couples who suit each other (sometimes teasingly, of matched flaws).
nổi cơn tam bành
to boil over with anger; to fly into a rage
nội bất xuất, ngoại bất nhập
nothing inside can come out, nothing outside can come in
nợ như chúa Chổm
to be heavily indebted
nứt đố đổ vách
to be loaded; to be filthy rich
oan gia ngõ hẹp
foes in a narrow alleyway.
oki
Cutesy “OK” — agreement with sprinkles.
PCCC
initialism of phòng cháy chữa cháy (“fire prevention and control”)
phi công trẻ lái máy bay bà già
Describes a younger man who loves or dates an older woman.
phi cổ bất thành kim
there is no present without the past
phong ba bão táp không bằng ngữ pháp Việt Nam
Vietnamese grammar is very hard to learn.
phong tục tập quán
habits and customs
phá gia chi tử
child who squanders the family fortune
phép vua thua lệ làng
even the monarch's law loses to a village's norms
phòng bệnh hơn chữa bệnh
it's better to prevent diseases than to wait for them to happen and then treat them
phòng điều khiển tín hiệu
signal box; signal control room
phông bạt
All facade — flexing a lifestyle or generosity that’s pure backdrop, no substance.
phù ... diệt
the movement/campaign in question is all about helping ... defeat ...
phúc bất trùng lai, họa vô đơn chí
Blessings do not come in pair, disasters do not come singly; opportunity seldom knocks twice, misfortunes never come singly
PT-TH
short for phát thanh truyền hình (“to emit sound and to transmit video content”)
qua cầu rút ván
To discard the people who helped you once you no longer need them; to destroy the way back after getting what you wanted.
qua đò khinh sóng
To scorn a danger once it is safely behind you — becoming dismissive or arrogant after hardship has passed.