ngãi
[ŋaːj˦ˀ˥]
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
(noun) righteousness, faithfulness
NounRegister: formal
Where it’s used:
Used
Miền Trung · Central Vietnam
Used
Miền Nam · Southern Vietnam
• Wiktionary labels this sense “Central” • Wiktionary labels this sense “Southern”
Examples
19th century, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Tale of Lục Vân Tiên, line 1212
它結情渚訴情
Ngãi đà kết ngãi, tình chưa tỏ tình
Our bond of rectitude is just freshly bound; our [mutual] affection is not even manifested yet.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “ngãi” mean?
(noun) righteousness, faithfulness
Is “ngãi” formal or informal?
ngãi is generally formal.