nhập gia tuỳ tục, nhập giang tuỳ khúc
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
Tiếng Việt · Sài Gòn & the South 1936
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 the South — distinctly Southern usage first, then nationwide staples.
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 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.
quang minh chính đại
high-principled; open and aboveboard; just and honorable; frank and righteous; without artifice
quay đầu là bờ
it is never too late to stop generating negative karma (tạo nghiệp) and start seeking enlightenment instead
quá tam ba bận
after three attempts, the chance of the success decreases greatly
quá tắc vật đạn cải
When making a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it.
quân bất hí ngôn
A monarch should not say anything in jest
quân ta bắn quân mình
friendly fire
quân ta đánh thắng quân mình
friendly fire
quân tử bất khí
a gentleman is no tool
quân tử nhất ngôn
I give you my word; you have my word
quân tử trả thù, mười năm chưa muộn
revenge is a dish best served cold
quân vô hí ngôn
A monarch should not say anything in jest
quýt làm cam chịu
having to bear the blame for something one did not do
quỷ tha ma bắt
goddamn; curse; screw
ra môn ra khoai
to do something with clear results
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