Đừng xét đoán người qua bề ngoài
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Do not judge the book by its cover.
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikiquote: Vietnamese proverbs (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
do not keep a dog and bark yourself
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
English
Near equivalent
never speak ill of the dead
Avoid criticizing or speaking negatively about someone who has died
English
Near equivalent
with the manner
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
English
Common questions
What does “Đừng xét đoán người qua bề ngoài” mean?
Do not judge the book by its cover.
Is “Đừng xét đoán người qua bề ngoài” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“do not keep a dog and bark yourself” (English) — near equivalent.