đi lại
[ʔɗi˧˧ laːj˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(verb) to go back and forth; to go from here to there (generally speaking)
Register: vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(verb) to visit a close person frequently
Register: vulgar
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(verb) to engage in sexual intercourse
Register: vulgar
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
back and forth
moving repeatedly from one place to another
English
Near equivalent
tròng trành
(verb) to sway; to rock; to tilt back and forth
Tiếng Việt · via back and forth
Near equivalent
chao đảo
(verb) to rock (back and forth); to stagger
Tiếng Việt · via back and forth
Near equivalent
ngược xuôi
(verb) to go back and forth, bustle about
Tiếng Việt · via back and forth
Near equivalent
lẫn nhau
(adjective) mutual; reciprocal; back and forth
Tiếng Việt · via back and forth
Near equivalent
tới lui
(verb) to haunt; to frequent; to go back and forth
Tiếng Việt · via back and forth
Near equivalent
ngoe nguẩy
(verb) to bend back and forth gently
Tiếng Việt · via back and forth
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “đi lại” mean?
(verb) to go back and forth; to go from here to there (generally speaking)
Is “đi lại” formal or informal?
đi lại is generally vulgar.
What is the closest equivalent?
“back and forth” (English) — near equivalent.