anh em cọc chèo
men whose wives are biological sisters in the same family
Tiếng Việt · Sài Gòn & the South 1901
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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 the South — distinctly Southern usage first, then nationwide staples.
biết chết liền
I don't know; no idea
cầu sung vừa đủ xài
to offer certain fruits during Tết as a way to wish for fortune
không có chi
you are welcome; no problem
năm Thìn bão lụt
years of the Dragon are prone to large storms and floods.
nước sôi
(noun) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see nước, sôi.
nước đến chân mới nhảy
To put things off until the situation is urgent, and only act at the last possible moment.
qtqđ
Texting shortcut for “quá trời quá đất” — an awful lot; extremely (Southern-flavored exclamation).
ra dẻ
Acting like it; putting on airs — pretending to a role you haven’t earned.
trèo cao té đau
the bigger they are, the harder they fall
tới công chuyện
“Now it’s on” — trouble (or serious business) has officially arrived; also “going all out”.
z
Southern-flavored texting shortcut for “vậy” — so / like that. “sao z?” = what’s wrong / how come?
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
báo thủ
A walking disaster — someone whose “help” reliably creates expensive problems for family and friends.
bây giờ là chín giờ
It’s nine o’clock.
bây giờ là chín giờ mười lăm
It’s quarter past nine.
bây giờ là chín giờ rưỡi
It’s half past nine.
bây giờ là mười giờ kém mười lăm
It’s quarter to ten.