anh ơi
Calling a man slightly older than you — waiter, driver, passer-by. The default polite hail toward adult men who aren't elderly.
Everyday talk · Giao tiếp 154
Related topics: Gen Z slang
bao nhiêu tiền
THE shopping question: "how much money?" — usually softened with a vocative: "Cô ơi, cái này bao nhiêu tiền?".
biết nói tiếng Anh không
The survival question "do you speak English?" — street-form Vietnamese drops the pronoun; add "anh/chị" in front to be polite.
biết rồi
"I know / got it" — acknowledgment with a teenager's edge when repeated: "biết rồi mà!" (I KNOW, okay?).
buồn ngủ quá
"So sleepy" — the after-lunch national condition; the cà phê sữa đá exists because of this phrase.
bạn còn phòng không
The check-in question: "do you have rooms left?" — "còn" (still have) is the load-bearing word for any availability question.
bạn khỏe không
The textbook "how are you?" — fine with strangers your age, but real speech swaps "bạn" for the right kinship word: "anh/chị/em khỏe không?".
bận lắm
"Really busy" — the standing reply of modern life; append "để bữa khác nha" (another time, okay?) to soften the decline.
bỏ qua đi
"Let it slide" — advice to drop a grievance; between friends it's mercy, from elders it's a verdict.
bớt chút được không
The bargaining ask: "can you take a little off?" — friendly haggling is expected at markets; smiles win discounts, indignation doesn't.
cho hỏi
The universal question opener — "may I ask…" — soften any request to a stranger by leading with it; fuller form "làm ơn cho hỏi" is extra-polite.
cho tôi cái này
Point-and-order: "I'll take this one" — the menu-independent survival move; swap "tôi" for "em/anh/chị" to match the seller.
choáng luôn
Stunned outright — "choáng" (dizzy with shock) plus the sealing "luôn": knocked flat by a number, a reveal, a price tag.
chú ơi
Calling a man of your parents' generation — the xe ôm uncle, the security guard, the neighbor. Pairs with self-word "con/cháu".
chắc chắn rồi
"Absolutely / for sure" — commitment without wiggle room; the answer that lets people stop worrying.
chết rồi
"Oh no / I'm dead" — the realization noise: forgotten keys, missed deadlines, unsent messages; almost never about actual death.
chỉ là hiểu lầm thôi
"It's just a misunderstanding" — the de-escalation phrase; "thôi" at the end shrinks the whole affair back to size.
chị ơi
Calling a woman slightly older than you — vendor, cashier, stranger on the street. Respectful and friendly at once.
chốt luôn
"Locked in!" — decision finalized on the spot; the verbal gavel of group chats planning anything.
chốt đơn
To close the order — livestream-commerce Vietnamese for committing to buy; sellers chant it, buyers comment it, wallets fear it.
chờ chút
"Hold on a sec" — universal pause button; Southern speech shrinks it to the even friendlier "chờ xíu".
chờ xíu
The Southern "wait a tiny bit" — "xíu" (a smidge) makes any wait sound short and sweet.
cà phê không
"Coffee?" — the one-word-plus-tag invitation that starts half of Vietnam's friendships, dates, and business deals.
còn hàng không
"Is it still in stock?" — the first comment under every online shop post; "còn" carries the whole question.
có nhận thẻ không
"Do you take cards?" — ask BEFORE you order; Vietnam is card-friendlier than before but cash and bank-transfer QR still rule.
có ship không
"Do you deliver?" — borrowed "ship" is now core Vietnamese commerce; the answer decides everything.
cô ơi
Calling a woman of your parents' generation — the market auntie, the landlady, a teacher. Warmer than formal, exactly right for the age gap.
cạn ly
"Bottoms up!" — literally "dry the glass"; the toast that means it. Refusing entirely is easier than half-drinking.
cực hay
"Extremely good" — the intensifier "cực" (extreme) doing everyday duty; what reviews and group chats say when five stars feel deserved.
dạ không
The polite "no" — "dạ" cushions the refusal so it lands soft; bare "không" to an elder sounds curt.
dừng ở đây
"Stop here" — the taxi/xe-ôm instruction; "cho xuống" (let me off) works when you're the passenger hopping out.
em ơi
The universal service call to someone YOUNGER — waiter, shop assistant, junior. Warm, normal, expected: this is how you summon help in Vietnam, not rudeness.
giỏi lắm
"Well done!" — sincere praise to juniors and students; said flatly to an adult it flips into pure sarcasm. Tone is everything.
giữ gìn sức khỏe
"Take care of your health" — the parting blessing to elders, travelers, and anyone you won't see for a while; deeper than "bye".
gì cơ
Northern "what was that? / come again?" — polite non-comprehension; "cơ" is a distinctly Hà Nội particle.
gì vậy
Southern "what? / what's that?" — from genuine question to mild outrage ("cái gì vậy trời!") depending on volume.
hay phết
Northern understatement for "actually pretty good" — "phết" softens the praise into a pleasantly surprised nod.
hiểu rồi
"Understood" — the learning checkpoint; say it only when true, because the follow-up question will find you.
hôm nay thứ mấy
"What day is it today?" — asks the weekday; remember Vietnamese weeks count from thứ hai (Monday = "day two").
hết bao nhiêu
"What's the total?" — asked at the end of a meal or a cart-load; "hết" totals everything up where "bao nhiêu tiền" prices one thing.
hết pin rồi
"Battery's dead" — phone, earbuds, or (jokingly) yourself at day's end; the modern excuse that everyone accepts.
hết sảy
Southern for "fantastic, top-notch" — retro slang that never died; praise with a grin built into it.
khoan đã
"Wait — hold everything" — the full-stop interjection when something needs re-checking before anyone moves.
khát nước quá
"So thirsty" — Vietnam's heat writes this line daily; the vocabulary of ordering the drink comes right after it.
không cay nha
"Not spicy, please" — the self-defense clause; Southern "nha" makes it a friendly request rather than an order.
không cần đâu
"No need, really" — declines offers (help, plastic bags, extra chili) without refusing the kindness behind them.
không sao đâu
The all-purpose "it's okay, no harm done" — waves off apologies, thanks, and small accidents in one breath.
không tin nổi
"I can't believe it" — the everyday disbelief phrase for results, prices, and plot twists; standard language, worth learning as a unit.
khỏi nói
"Don't even ask / goes without saying" — the answer is so obvious (so good, so bad) that words would waste it.
kính gửi
The formal letter/email opener — "respectfully addressed to" — mandatory register for officials, professors, and cover letters; never spoken aloud.
kẹt xe quá
"Traffic's terrible" — the Sài Gòn excuse that needs no proof; Northern speech says "tắc đường" for the same misery.
làm hết mình
To give it everything — total effort with nothing in reserve; the promise before the attempt and the consolation after it.
làm quen được không
"Can we get to know each other?" — the classic, slightly formal way to introduce yourself to a stranger you'd like to know; sincere, not sleazy.
lâu quá không gặp
"Long time no see" — near word-for-word, and used exactly the same way; the reunion opener.
lạnh quá
"So cold" — Hà Nội's winter refrain, said through scarves; the South borrows it for aggressive air-conditioning.
mai gặp nhé
"See you tomorrow" — the everyday parting between classmates and colleagues; Southern speech ends it in "nha".
mang về
Takeaway — "to carry home"; the counter question is "ăn ở đây hay mang về?" (for here or to go?).
miễn chê
"Beyond criticism" — quality so solid complaint is exempt; the reviewer's highest shrug of approval.
má ơi
"MOM!" as an exclamation — the Southern gasp for shocks big and small; nobody's actual mother is being called.
mất mạng rồi
"The internet's down" — deliciously, "mạng" means both network and life, so this also reads "I've lost my life": accurate.
mất động lực
To lose motivation — the tank hits empty even though the to-do list hasn't; modern shorthand for drive gone missing.
mấy giờ rồi
"What time is it?" — the essential clock question; "rồi" makes it about NOW, usually with mild alarm attached.
mấy giờ đóng cửa
"What time do you close?" — ask it early; the answer decides whether tonight's plan survives.
một hai ba dô
The beer-table chant: "one, two, three, GO!" — roared in rounds, glass raised; the sound of a Vietnamese nhậu in full swing.
nghe chưa
The sentence-final "got it?" — parents, teachers, and big sisters use it to nail an instruction in place.
nghe có lý
"That actually makes sense" — a fair-minded nod to a point that lands; agreement earned mid-conversation, not planned.
nghỉ trưa
The midday break — a real institution: shops dim, offices nap, Vietnam pauses roughly 11:30–13:30. Schedule around it.
ngon quá
"So delicious!" — say it mid-bite and mean it; the highest compliment a cook hears all day, and the cheapest gift you can give.
người hai mặt
A two-faced person — sweet to your face, different behind your back; the standard label for double-dealing.
người nhiều chuyện
The busybody — "many-story person": collects, retells, and embroiders everyone's business; every neighborhood has one.
ngủ ngon nha
"Sleep well" — the goodnight of choice, softer than the textbook "chúc ngủ ngon"; last message of a million chats.
nhà vệ sinh ở đâu
The most-needed question in any country: "where is the toilet?" — "nhà vệ sinh" is the polite word; signs may say WC or Toilet.
nhớ nha
"Don't forget, okay?" — the sweet Southern reminder-sealer; sticks any promise with two syllables.
no rồi
"I'm full" — the only polite escape from Vietnamese hospitality's endless refills; expect one more scoop anyway.
nói chậm thôi
"Please speak slowly" — the second-best friend; native speed drops instantly and with sympathy.
nói lại được không
"Could you say that again?" — the learner's best friend; politer with a vocative and endlessly reusable.
nói thật đấy
"I'm serious" — drops the joking frame; what follows is meant. Southern speech says "nói thiệt đó".
nóng quá
"So hot" — weather, soup, or temper by context; as weather-talk it is the country's most spoken sentence from April to September.
năng lượng tích cực
Positive energy — the wellness-era staple for an uplifting mood, person, or place; what everyone promises their feed will radiate.
nể luôn
Genuine hats-off respect — "nể" (to be impressed by) sealed with "luôn": admiration you didn't plan on giving but must.
pass wifi là gì
The first question of the connected age: "what's the wifi password?" — asked before the menu in half of Vietnam's cafés.
quá hay
Plain, honest praise — "so good" — the workhorse compliment for songs, matches, ideas, and stories; common language, not an idiom.
quá sức tưởng tượng
Beyond imagination — outcomes that outrun anything you had pictured, for better or worse.
quá đỉnh
The everyday superlative: "beyond peak" — the default two syllables Vietnamese reaches for when something is simply excellent.
rảnh không
"You free?" — the two-syllable plan-starter; everything from coffee to a favor begins here.
sao thế
Northern "what's the matter?" — same caring question as "sao vậy", wearing its Northern particle.
sao vậy
"What's wrong? / why?" — the concern-question; Southern "vậy" where the North asks "sao thế".
stress nhẹ
"Mildly stressed" — the self-diagnosis for manageable pressure; often an understatement delivered with a tired smile.
sắp tới chưa
"Almost there yet?" — the backseat question; also the standard nudge to a late friend ("sắp tới chưa đó??").
sống tích cực
To live positively — choosing the optimistic read of things; the motto version of "năng lượng tích cực".
sống vội
To live in a rush — sprinting through days without tasting them; the phrase songs and essays use to diagnose modern hurry.
tan làm chưa
"Off work yet?" — the check-in that starts evening plans; "tan làm" (work dissolves) is the lovely verb for clocking out.
thêm đá
"Extra ice" — café Vietnamese; its siblings "ít đá" (less ice) and "không đá" (no ice) complete the drink-tuning trio.
thôi kệ
"Ah, let it go" — the shrug that keeps Vietnam sane; not every battle deserves you.
thôi xong
"Welp, it's over" — the deadpan verdict when a small disaster completes itself before your eyes.
thôi được rồi
"Fine, okay then" — concession with a visible sigh; you've stopped arguing, not necessarily agreed.
thật không
"Really?" — the doubt-check; Northern-flavored, with Southern speech preferring "thiệt hả" for the same raised eyebrow.
thử được không
"Can I try it?" — clothes, shoes, a taste at the market; permission-first plus a smile opens every fitting room.
trà đá vỉa hè
Sidewalk iced tea — Hà Nội's two-thousand-đồng institution: a plastic stool, a glass of trà đá, and the day's gossip. A place as much as a drink.
trời mưa rồi
"It's raining" — announcement, resignation, and plan-changer in one; the motorbike nation's least favorite sentence.
tôi bị bệnh
"I'm sick" — the plain way to report illness; "bị" again marks it as unwanted. Southern speech often says "bị bịnh".
tôi bị lạc
"I'm lost" — the passive-misfortune marker "bị" tells the listener this happened TO you; follow with the place you need.
tôi bị mất ví
"I lost my wallet" — the phrase you hope to never need; "bị mất" covers stolen and misplaced alike.
tôi bị thương
"I'm injured" — for accidents and emergencies; pair with "gọi cấp cứu" (call an ambulance) when it's serious.
tôi chưa làm gì sai
"I haven't done anything wrong" — calm, formal, and worth knowing verbatim before you ever need it.
tôi cần một bác sĩ
The emergency essential: "I need a doctor" — blunt is correct here; add "gấp" (urgently) to raise the alarm.
tôi không biết nói tiếng Việt
The honest opener every learner needs day one: "I can't (really) speak Vietnamese" — usually softened with "cho lắm" (not very well) and instantly forgiven.
tôi không ăn thịt bò
"I don't eat beef" — the polite dietary line; works for allergy, religion, or preference without explanation.
tôi không ăn thịt lợn
"I don't eat pork" — crucial in a pork-loving cuisine; Southern speech says "thịt heo" (same meaning, different pig word).
tôi là người ăn chay
"I'm vegetarian" — Vietnam understands "ăn chay" deeply (Buddhist tradition); say it and most kitchens can adapt anything.
tôi muốn thuê xe
"I want to rent a vehicle" — default reading is a motorbike; specify "xe máy" (bike) or "ô tô/xe hơi" (car) to be exact.
tùy bạn
"Up to you" — handing over the decision; swap the pronoun ("tùy em", "tùy anh") to fit the relationship, or shrug "tùy" alone.
tới rồi
"We're here / it's arrived" — arrival in two syllables: the destination, the food, the long-awaited package.
việc này khẩn cấp
"This is an emergency" — formal enough for officials, clear enough for anyone; the word doing the work is "khẩn cấp" (urgent).
xin phép
The polite "with your permission" — announced before leaving a meal, entering a room, or interrupting elders; Vietnamese courtesy in two syllables.
xong rồi
"Done / finished / all set" — the two syllables that close a meal, a job, a haircut; rising-context "Xong chưa?" asks, "Xong rồi" answers.
ít đường
"Less sugar" — the modern café request; Vietnamese drinks run sweet, and this phrase is how locals dial it down.
ăn cơm chưa
The classic Vietnamese hello: "have you eaten rice yet?" — care, not catering; the correct answer is short and warm either way.
ăn ngon miệng nhé
"Enjoy your meal" — said when serving or leaving someone to eat; the Vietnamese bon appétit.
ăn trưa chưa
"Had lunch yet?" — the office corridor greeting; an invitation hides inside it more often than not.
ăn ở đây
"For here" — the dine-in half of the counter question; answer it before they ask and you sound local.
đi nhậu không
The after-work summons: "coming out drinking?" — "nhậu" is the Southern institution of beer, grilled snacks, and long tables that solve nothing and everything.
đi thẳng
"Go straight" — direction-giving 101; Vietnamese directions chain these: "đi thẳng, tới ngã tư rẽ trái…".
đi đường cẩn thận
"Travel safely" — the doorway farewell; Vietnamese care is logistical, and this is its signature line.
đáng yêu hết nấc
Cute to the last notch — "hết nấc" (out of notches) maxes out the cuteness dial; the caption of choice under pet and baby photos.
đói quá
"So hungry" — a state report and a proposal in one; the natural next line is "ăn gì đây?" (what shall we eat?).
đùa thôi
"Just kidding" — the retraction that saves friendships; deploy fast after a joke lands wrong.
đúng không
The tag question "right?" — turns any statement into a check-in; the listener's nod is half of Vietnamese conversation.
đúng rồi
"That's right" — plain confirmation; stretch it to "đúng rồi đó!" and it becomes delighted agreement.
được rồi
"Alright / that's enough / okay then" — agreement, sufficiency, or gentle wrap-up depending on tone; a workhorse of daily talk.
đắt quá
The bargaining opener: "too expensive!" — half price-check, half theater; the South says "mắc quá" (same move, different word).
đẹp không góc chết
Beautiful with "no dead angle" — flawless from every camera position; the photography term promoted into everyday praise.
đẹp lung linh
Shimmering-beautiful — the standard collocation for sparkling, picture-perfect looks: fairy lights, áo dài photos, freshly decorated rooms.
để tôi xem
"Let me see / let me check" — buys thinking time politely; casual speech prefers "để mình xem" or "để coi" (South).
đổi được không
"Can I exchange it?" — sizes, colors, wrong orders; pair with the receipt and patience.
đừng giận nữa
"Don't be mad anymore" — the make-up opener; multiplied with food ("đừng giận nữa, đi ăn nha?") it rarely fails.
đừng lo
"Don't worry" — reassurance in two syllables; "đừng lo, có mình đây" (don't worry, I'm here) is the full comfort package.
đừng làm phiền tôi
"Leave me alone / stop bothering me" — firm but not vulgar; the street-vendor deflection when a smile hasn't worked.
ủa gì vậy
The double-take: "wait, what?" — "ủa" is the noise Vietnamese makes when reality glitches; beloved of memes and group chats.
chill phết
Pleasantly chill — the borrowed "chill" wearing the Northern "phết": more relaxed than expected, in a good way.
căng thật
An honest "this is genuinely tense" — confirmation that the pressure is real, not drama; the sober cousin of "căng đét".
full điểm
A perfect score, Viet-English style — "full" + điểm (points): ten out of ten, no deductions found.
healing nhẹ
A "light healing" — the gentle-recovery trend: quiet cafés, short trips, early nights; borrowed "healing" softened with "nhẹ".
làm gì dữ vậy
Southern "whoa, why so intense?" — gently pulling someone back when their reaction outsizes the situation.
mê không lối thoát
Hooked with no exit — obsession framed as a maze you cannot leave; for songs on repeat, series binges, and new crushes.
nghỉ ngơi đúng nghĩa
Rest in the true sense — actually unplugging, not scrolling in bed with work anxiety; the phrase that admits most "rest" isn't.
nhìn là mê
Love at first look — one glance and you're hooked; said of food spreads, outfits, and anything instantly covetable.
nói thật nhé
The honesty preamble — "let me be real with you" — the polite drumroll before candid feedback lands.
ok luôn
Instant agreement, chat-flavored — "ok" sealed with "luôn": not just yes, but yes right now, no hesitation.
sống cân bằng
To live in balance — keeping work, rest, and relationships in proportion; the stated goal of every productivity reset.
sống có gu
To live with taste — a consistent personal aesthetic in what you wear, keep, and choose; style as a way of living rather than a purchase.
wifi yếu quá
"The wifi's so weak" — the café complaint of the laptop generation; often muttered while holding the phone toward the ceiling.
xịn quá chừng
Southern "premium beyond measure" — "quá chừng" is the South's boundless intensifier, here applied to anything impressively fancy.
đúng rồi đấy
The Northern "yep, that's exactly it" — confirmation with a friendly push, often encouraging someone who has just figured it out.