(historical) branch of administration in the feudal court (of which there are two types: the civil administrators and the martial office holders)
group (of people doing the same work); band; board; squad; committee
shift; work period
(only in compounds) time period; section of the day
(dated) (college-level) subject; (academic) department
orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata)
(medicine) rash
(Central Vietnam) ball
(colloquial) Alternative form of pan

verb

(archaic) to confer on; to bestow
(archaic) to announce; to herald; to proclaim

bao báp

bao báp
noun

baobab

bo bo

bo bo
noun

Job's tears

bàng

bàng
noun

the Malabar almond (Terminalia catappa)
grey sedge (Lepironia articulata)

bá bệnh

bá bệnh
noun

long jack (a shrub of the species Eurycoma longifolia in the family Simaroubaceae)

bách

bách
num

(only in compounds) hundred

noun

cypress, cypress tree
(obsolete) small boat

verb

(only in compounds) to compel, to force, to constrain

báng

báng
noun

(botany) a sugar palm tree of the species Arenga pinnata
(medicine) ascites
a gunstock; shoulder stock; butt (of a gun)

bánh dày

bánh dày
noun

Millettia pinnata (a species of tree in the pea family, native in tropical and temperate Asia)

bánh giầy

bánh giầy
noun

A white, flat, round cake in traditional Vietnamese cuisine, made of glutinous rice and wrapped in banana leaves.
Lonchocarpus sericeus (a species of tree in the pea family)

bèo

bèo
noun

duckweed

adj

(slang) cheap, low quality

bèo tây

bèo tây
noun

(Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam) water hyacinth

bìm bìm

bìm bìm
noun

(botany) a plant of the family Convolvulaceae (especially bindweed or morning glory)

bìm nắp

bìm nắp
noun

(botany) turpeth; St. Thomas lidpod (plant of the species Operculina turpethum)

bình bát

bình bát
noun

custard apple (Annona reticulata)

bí

bí
noun

pumpkin
other plants in the Cucurbitaceae family

adj

(only in compounds) mysterious, secret, unknown

verb

(informal or slang) to not know

bí ngòi

bí ngòi
noun

zucchini

bí đao

bí đao
noun

winter melon (Benincasa hispida)

bí đỏ

bí đỏ
noun

pumpkin

bòn bon

bòn bon
noun

(Southern Vietnam) langsat (Lansium parasiticum)

bòng bong

bòng bong
noun

(botany) a climbing fern of the species Lygodium flexuosum
(botany, by extension) any climbing fern (of the genus Lygodium)
split bamboo fibers; bamboo shavings
(figuratively) a mess; jumble

bòng bòng

bòng bòng
noun

Calotropis
(Thanh Hoá) wax apple (Syzygium samarangense)

bóng nước

bóng nước
noun

(sports) water polo
garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina)

bôm

bôm
noun

(regional) apple
a plant-derived tar

bông cải xanh

bông cải xanh
noun

broccoli

bông giấy

bông giấy
noun

(botany) bougainvillea

bông gòn

bông gòn
noun

ceiba
cotton pad

bùi

bùi
adj

(of a flavor) delicious and fattish, as with peanuts or chestnuts; nutty

noun

(dialectal) Canarium.

bút

bút
noun

any piece of equipment used for writing with one's hand, except chalk
(figuratively) someone who writes for a living, such as a professional writer, editorialist or journalist

bút bi

bút bi
noun

a ballpoint pen

bút chì

bút chì
noun

a pencil (graphite writing-instrument)

bút chì bấm

bút chì bấm
noun

mechanical pencil

bút chì kim

bút chì kim
noun

a mechanical pencil

bút lông

bút lông
noun

(calligraphy) an inkbrush
(by extension) a brush pen
(by extension) a marker pen

bút máy

bút máy
noun

fountain pen

bút mực

bút mực
noun

pen (for writing)

bút nguyên tử

bút nguyên tử
noun

a ballpoint pen

bơ

bơ
noun

butter
avocado

verb

(colloquial) to ignore

bưởi

bưởi
noun

a pomelo
(anatomy, euphemistic, humorous, of a woman) a boob; a jug

bưởi chùm

bưởi chùm
noun

grapefruit

bạc hà

bạc hà
noun

mint
(Southern Vietnam) Colocasia gigantea

bạch chỉ

bạch chỉ
noun

(botany) Dahurian angelica (a flowering medicinal herb of the species Angelica dahurica)
(Buddhism) a state of mental clarity

bạch dương

bạch dương
noun

(botany) birch
white poplar

bạch đàn

bạch đàn
noun

(botany) Eucalyptus

bảo kiếm

bảo kiếm
noun

precious sword

bấc

bấc
noun

(botany) soft rush, Juncus effusus
wick

bầu

bầu
noun

Lagenaria siceraria (calabash vine, bottle gourd)
(by extension) Any plant of genus Lagenaria
Various varieties of Oryza sativa rice that are usually planted as lúa Chiêm in deep paddies, and are relatively colorful, rather strong, and can be planted in paddies high in alum, for red rice or low-quality rice.
gourd (hard-shelled fruit from a plant in Lagenaria)
gourd (dried and hardened shell of a gourd fruit)
(botany) ovary (lower part of a pistil or carpel that bears ovules)
(horticulture) rootball
(nautical) bulbous bow; bulbous stern
bosom (seat of one's inner thoughts, feelings, etc.)
(dialectal) womb; baby bump
a space of something
pregnancy

adj

pregnant
(used in compounds) bulging, plump

verb

to be pregnant
to vote
to elect

bầu hồ lô

bầu hồ lô
noun

(botany) a bottle gourd; calabash (of the species Lagenaria siceraria)

bắp

bắp
noun

(of a banana plant) a blossom
(by extension) muscle
(by extension, Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) maize, corn
(colloquial) popcorn

bẹ

bẹ
noun

(botany) sheath
(dialectal) corn, maize

bọ chó

bọ chó
noun

(colloquial) a parasitic bug that feeds on dogs (such as a flea or tick)
(botany) a flowering plant of the genus Buddleja

bồ công anh

bồ công anh
noun

dandelion

bồ kết

bồ kết
noun

locust tree

cam

cam
noun

orange, such as or citrus sinensis sinensis or citrus aurantium
Short for cam sành (“Citrus reticulata × sinensis”).

adj

made of oranges
(màu ~) of the colour orange

cam thảo

cam thảo
noun

licorice

can

can
noun

(alternative medicine) liver
Short for Thiên Can (“celestial stem”).
walking stick

verb

to concern; to apply to
to be involved (in); to be implicated (in)
to dissuade (someone from doing something); to intervene
to join; to unite; to sew together
to trace (through translucent paper), to do tracing

canh ki na

canh ki na
noun

cinchona

cao lương

cao lương
noun

(agriculture) sorghum
(only in compounds) rich food

cau

cau
noun

areca

verb

to frown

chanh

chanh
noun

lime

chanh dây

chanh dây
noun

(Southern Vietnam) passion fruit

chanh leo

chanh leo
noun

(Northern Vietnam) passion fruit

chanh tây

chanh tây
noun

lemon

chay

chay
noun

Artocarpus tonkinensis A Cheval (a tree in the mulberry family)

adj

vegan

adv

(colloquial) in an ordinary, even lackluster, way; without special aids or equipment

chiều tím

chiều tím
noun

(botany) a Mexican bluebell; Mexican petunia (flower of the species Ruellia simplex)

chuyện

chuyện
noun

a story, a tale, or an anecdote
matters; affairs
manufactured trouble

intj

duh!

chuyện cổ tích

chuyện cổ tích
noun

(folklore) a folktale

chuối

chuối
noun

banana
(slang) penis

adj

(slang, Northern Vietnam) cringeworthy; cringy

chà là

chà là
noun

date (fruit of the date palm)

chày

chày
noun

a pestle (instrument used with a mortar to grind things)
(by extension, baseball, softball) a bat

chèo

chèo
noun

either an oar or a paddle
chèo (traditional Vietnamese opera)

verb

either to oar or to paddle

chìa vôi

chìa vôi
noun

a tool for spreading lime (on a betel leaf)
(zoology) a wagtail (bird of the genus Motacilla)
(zoology, by extension) any bird of the family Motacillidae
(botany) turpeth; St. Thomas lidpod (plant of the species Operculina turpethum)

chò

chò
noun

a three-legged device for raising plates on the altar
(botany) a tree in the genus Parashorea

chò chỉ

chò chỉ
noun

(botany) a tree of the species Parashorea chinensis

chòi mòi

chòi mòi
noun

(botany) a shrub of the species Antidesma ghaesembilla

chôm chôm

chôm chôm
noun

(archaic or probably obsolete) sponge
rambutan
(slang) HIV

chùm bao

chùm bao
noun

wild maracuja (Passiflora foetida)

chùm ruột

chùm ruột
noun

Malay gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus)

chĩa

chĩa
noun

a pitchfork
a harpoon; pike (especially for fishing)

verb

to point (at); to aim (at) (with a weapon)
to stab with a pitchfork or a harpoon

chĩa ba

chĩa ba
noun

a pitchfork (typically with three prongs)

chỉ thiên

chỉ thiên
noun

(botany) Elephant’s foot (flowers of the genus Elephantopus)

adv

skyward; upward

chổi

chổi
noun

broom

cung

cung
noun

a palace
(astrology) a sign
the first note in the classic pentatonic scale.
(archery) bow
(geometry) arc
(economics) supply

cuốc

cuốc
noun

swamphen
hoe
errand

verb

to hoe

cà chua

cà chua
noun

tomato

cà dái dê

cà dái dê
noun

eggplant

cà kheo

cà kheo
noun

a stilt (walking pole)

cà tím

cà tím
noun

eggplant

cán

cán
noun

a handle; grip; staff; lever (especially of a tool)

verb

to flatten; to crush (especially with rolling cylindrical objects)
(figuratively) to run over (with a vehicle)

cát cánh

cát cánh
noun

(botany) Platycodon grandiflorus

câm

câm
adj

mute (not having the power of speech)
(orthography, phonetics) silent; mute
(film, theater) silent

verb

to shut up; to keep one's mouth shut

cân

cân
noun

(colloquial, dated) kilogram
a weighing instrument; a balance, scale, etc.

verb

to weigh

adj

in some kind of balance or equilibrium

cân bằng

cân bằng
adj

balanced; equal

noun

balance; equilibrium

verb

to balance

cân chìm

cân chìm
noun

a platform scale; weighbridge; floor scale (often to weigh vehicles)

cân nhắc

cân nhắc
verb

to consider; deliberate; contemplate
to assess; evaluate

cân não

cân não
noun

a nerve
the psyche; spirit

adj

psychological; mental

cân nặng

cân nặng
noun

(of body) weight

cân đối

cân đối
adj

balanced; well-proportioned; symmetrical

verb

to balance

câng

câng
adj

(colloquial) impudent; insolent; shameless and obnoxious

câu

câu
noun

Short for bồ câu (“dove”).
sentence; expression; line

verb

to fish with a rod; to hook

câu chuyện

câu chuyện
noun

a story; tale
matter, affair, subject

câu chấp

câu chấp
verb

(dated, rare) to nitpick; to quibble; to be petty
(dated, rare) to be stubborn; to be obstinate

câu cú

câu cú
noun

(collective) sentences
(writing) how one phrases or structures their sentences

câu cửa miệng

câu cửa miệng
noun

colloquialisms or colloquial collocations
(derogatory) colloquialisms or slang that are thought of as unrefined or thoughtless

câu giờ

câu giờ
verb

(figuratively) to buy time, to run out the clock
(US politics) to filibuster

câu hỏi

câu hỏi
noun

question

câu kết

câu kết
verb

to gang up; to collude

câu lưu

câu lưu
verb

(literary) to detain; arrest

câu lạc bộ

câu lạc bộ
noun

a club; organization; social group
an entertainment venue

câu nói

câu nói
noun

a saying; expression
a statement; quote

câu nệ

câu nệ
adj

fussy; finicky; inflexible

câu thúc

câu thúc
verb

to bind; restrain; constrain

câu đố

câu đố
noun

a riddle; brain-teaser; conundrum

câu đối

câu đối
noun

a literary couplet of parallel sentences
an antithetical couplet; spring couplet
a festive ornament or banner used to display couplets

cây

cây
noun

a plant with a hard trunk or stem, such as a woody tree or bamboo, as opposed to cỏ (“(soft-stemmed) grass”)
(by extension) a plant (including trees and grasses), or more rarely, a mushroom
(colloquial) Short for cây số (“kilometre/kimometer”).

classifier

Indicates plants
Indicates stick/rod-like objects
(music) Indicates string instruments and some other types of musical instruments

cây Nô-el

cây Nô-el
noun

Christmas tree

cây Nô-en

cây Nô-en
noun

Christmas tree

cây cỏ

cây cỏ
noun

plant; herbaceous plant (generally speaking)

cây cối

cây cối
noun

(colloquial) plant (generally speaking)

cây mắc cỡ

cây mắc cỡ
noun

sensitive plant

cây nhà lá vườn

cây nhà lá vườn
adj

homegrown; homemade

cây số

cây số
noun

a marker made of concrete, similar to a headstone, that marks each kilometer on a road
(colloquial) kilometer/kilometre

cây trinh nữ

cây trinh nữ
noun

sensitive plant

cây trồng

cây trồng
noun

cultivated crops

cây xăng

cây xăng
noun

gas station

cây xấu hổ

cây xấu hổ
noun

sensitive plant

cóc

cóc
noun

a toad
species in the genus Spondias, such as Spondias dulcis

particle

(colloquial) not

intj

(colloquial) no

cói

cói
noun

Cyperus tegetiformis

côca

côca
noun

(botany) coca plant
Coca-Cola; cola (drink)
kola nut
cocaine

côn

côn
noun

(weaponry) a stick or staff
(rare, Chinese mythology) (cá ~) Kun, a giant mythical fish

côn nhị khúc

côn nhị khúc
noun

(weaponry) nunchucks

cúc

cúc
noun

daisy; chrysanthemum
ammonite
(Northern Vietnam) button
antlion

cơ

cơ
noun

(anatomy) muscle
(card games) hearts
(billiards, snooker) a cue stick
(historical, military) military unit consisting of 10 or 200–500 soldiers.

suffix

(obsolete) aircraft; airplane

adj

related to mechanics
mechanical

particle

(chiefly Northern Vietnam, colloquial, childish) it must be this way, not any other; my way or no way

cần

cần
verb

to need

noun

water parsnip
pole; rod
Short for cần sa (“marijuana”).

cầu

cầu
noun

(sports) a jianzi shuttlecock
(badminton) a badminton shuttlecock
(sports) Short for cầu mây (“sepak takraw ball”).
a bridge (construction or natural feature that spans a divide)
(Southern Vietnam) Short for nhà cầu (“latrine; lavatory”).
(economics) demand

verb

to ask for; to demand
to pray that something will happen; compare ước (“to wish”)

cầu trượt

cầu trượt
noun

a slide

cầu tuột

cầu tuột
noun

a slide

cầu vồng

cầu vồng
noun

a rainbow (multicoloured arch in the sky)

cẩm chướng

cẩm chướng
noun

(botany) any plant, such as carnations and pinks, of the genus Dianthus

cẩn

cẩn
noun

(North Central Vietnam) hibiscus

cậy

cậy
verb

(rarely used alone) to rely on; to pin one's hopes (on)
to congratulate oneself; plume oneself (on)

noun

date plum (Diospyros lotus)

cọ

cọ
noun

a palm tree
(painting) a brush

verb

to scrub (to rub hard)

cỏ

cỏ
noun

grass
(slang) weed; marijuana

adj

(literary) negligible

cỏ bợ

cỏ bợ
noun

(botany) European waterclover (Marsilea quadrifolia)

cỏ gà

cỏ gà
noun

Cynodon dactylon

cỏ may

cỏ may
noun

Chrysopogon aciculatus

cỏ tranh

cỏ tranh
noun

cogon grass

cột

cột
noun

pillar, column, pole

verb

to fasten, to strap in, to bind, to tie

củi

củi
noun

firewood

cứt lợn

cứt lợn
noun

Ageratum conyzoides

diêm

diêm
noun

(in compounds) salt
match (device to make fire)

diên vĩ

diên vĩ
noun

iris (flower)

dong

dong
verb

drive, escort

noun

Phrynium placentarium

dành dành

dành dành
noun

(botany) Cape jasmine (a flower of the species Gardenia jasminoides)

dâm bụt

dâm bụt
noun

hibiscus

dâu

dâu
noun

mulberry
(by extension) strawberry
daughter-in-law
Short for cô dâu (“bride”).

dâu tây

dâu tây
noun

strawberry

dâu tằm

dâu tằm
noun

mulberry

dây gắm

dây gắm
noun

(botany) a climbing shrub of the species Gnetum montanum
(botany) plants of the division Gnetophyta (generally)

dù

dù
noun

(Southern Vietnam) umbrella
parachute

conj

(literary or formal) even if, although

dùi

dùi
noun

long stick
drumstick

dùi cui

dùi cui
noun

cudgel, club

dưa lê

dưa lê
noun

honeydew melon

dương

dương
noun

(occult) yang
poplar

adj

(occult) having "yang" characteristics, such as "bright", "solar" or "masculine"
(mathematics, physics) positive

affix

ocean
caprid

dương xỉ

dương xỉ
noun

(botany) fern

dương đào

dương đào
noun

kiwi

dầu giun

dầu giun
noun

(botany) Jesuit's tea; Mexican-tea (an herb of the species Dysphania ambrosioides)

dẻ

dẻ
noun

chestnut

dọc mùng

dọc mùng
noun

(Northern Vietnam) Colocasia gigantea

dứa

dứa
noun

(Northern Vietnam) pineapple
a species of pineapple commonly found in northern Vietnam

dừa

dừa
noun

coconut

gai

gai
noun

hemp-nettle
thorn
prickle
(Central Vietnam) pineapple
ramie

gan

gan
noun

(anatomy) a liver
(figuratively) audacity; gall; balls
(botany) Malus doumeri

adj

hepatic
courageous, brave, tough

ghi-ta

ghi-ta
noun

a guitar

giá

giá
noun

price
(Southern Vietnam) bean sprouts
shelf
mount (object on which another object is mounted)

adj

(obsolete or only in compounds) cold

conj

if; in case; supposing; if only; I wish

giáo

giáo
noun

lance, spear

affix

of teaching or educating

suffix

religion

giò

giò
noun

leg
meat paste
pork sausage

giền

giền
noun

amaranth

gòn

gòn
noun

(botany) ceiba
(by extension) cotton pad

găng

găng
noun

(clothing) glove
Species of the genus Aidia, especially Aidia chantonea
Species of the genus Canthium
Species of the genus Fagerlindia
Species of the genus Oxyceros
indigoberry (Randia)
Species of the genus Rothmannia

adj

tight; tense; strained

adv

tightly; tensely; in a strained manner

gươm

gươm
noun

Synonym of kiếm (“sword”)

gạo

gạo
noun

cotton tree
uncooked, dehusked rice (non-glutinous)

gậy

gậy
noun

stick, cane, staff

gắm

gắm
noun

(botany) a climbing shrub of the species Gnetum montanum

gừng

gừng
noun

ginger (plant, spice)

han

han
noun

Dendrocnide

hoa bất tử

hoa bất tử
noun

(botany) strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)

hoa chè

hoa chè
noun

(Northern Vietnam, botany) a camellia

hoa giấy

hoa giấy
noun

(botany) a bougainvillea
confetti

hoa hiên

hoa hiên
noun

(botany) orange day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva)

hoa trà

hoa trà
noun

(Southern Vietnam, botany) a camellia

hoàng lan

hoàng lan
noun

(botany) ylang ylang (a tree of the species Cananga odorata)

hoè

hoè
noun

Chinese scholar tree (Styphnolobium japonicum)

huệ

huệ
noun

tuberose

hành

hành
noun

scallion; spring onion; green onion

hành tây

hành tây
noun

onion

húng quế

húng quế
noun

Thai basil

hương thảo

hương thảo
noun

(botany) rosemary

hướng dương

hướng dương
noun

a sunflower

hẹ

hẹ
noun

garlic chive

hồng

hồng
adj

pink
(only in compounds) red

noun

persimmon

hồng táo

hồng táo
noun

(botany) red date; Chinese jujube; Chinese date (of the species Ziziphus jujuba)

kem que

kem que
noun

popsicle

keo

keo
noun

glue
acacia

adj

(derogatory, of a person) cheap; stingy

khoai môn

khoai môn
noun

taro

khoai sọ

khoai sọ
noun

taro

khuynh diệp

khuynh diệp
noun

(botany) Eucalyptus

khóm

khóm
noun

bush, clump (of trees)
(Southern Vietnam) pineapple
a species of pineapple commonly found in southern Vietnam
(Mekong Delta) a neighborhood

không khí

không khí
noun

air (gases making up the atmosphere of a planet)
atmosphere; ambiance

khế

khế
noun

carambola, star fruit

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 憩
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 契
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 瘈

kim

kim
noun

(rare, only in compounds) metal
Metal, one of the Wu Xing
a needle
(of a clock/watch) a hand

kim tiêm

kim tiêm
noun

injection needle

kim tiêm dưới da

kim tiêm dưới da
noun

hypodermic needle

kiếm

kiếm
noun

a sword

verb

to seek, to search, to find

kè

kè
noun

(dialectal) fan palm
lizardfish
revetment

kèn

kèn
noun

a traditional double reed shawm of Vietnam

kèo

kèo
noun

a supporting structure in the house
(by extension, gamble) bet
(informal) appointment
Short for cá kèo (“goby (of the genus Pseudapocryptes)”).

kèo nèo

kèo nèo
noun

Limnocharis flava, yellow velvetleaf, an aquatic flowering plant native to southeast Asia.

ké

ké
verb

(placed after the main verb) to obtain a share of something from someone; to get a share

noun

members of the Xanthium genus

kéo

kéo
verb

to pull

noun

scissors (tool used for cutting)

kê

kê
noun

millet

verb

to rest (a part of one's body) on something
(furniture) to place; to arrange; to put
to prescribe

kìm

kìm
noun

either pincers, or more popularly, pliers

kích

kích
noun

a halberd
(colloquial) a jack; lifting device

verb

(only in compounds) to ambush, to attack
(only in compounds) to stimulate, to arouse, to excite, to incite

kơ nia

kơ nia
noun

Irvingia malayana

lai

lai
verb

Short for lai giống (“to crossbreed”).
(Central Vietnam) to carry (someone) on one's bicycle or motorbike pillion; to give someone a lift on the bicycle or motorbike
to tow

adj

of mixed blood; crossbred

noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) hemline; turn-up
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) hundredth part of a tael (equal to 0.378 g)
candlenut; candleberry (Aleurites moluccanus)

lan

lan
verb

to spread; to run

noun

orchid

lanh

lanh
adj

fast, quick
(often used for a child) mercurial

noun

flax

lao

lao
noun

(bệnh ~) (medicine) tuberculosis
harpoon; javelin; dart
jail; prison

verb

to plunge; to dart

lao móc

lao móc
noun

harpoon

lau

lau
noun

reed, arundinaceous cane

verb

to clean by wiping or rubbing with a wet cloth

lay ơn

lay ơn
noun

(botany) a gladiolus

le
noun

a plant in the rice family, which grows in forests and has a shape similar to bamboo

verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of lè (“to loll (tongue); to put out”)

adv

(rare) Alternative form of lè (“very”)

conj

(archaic) but; however

lim

lim
noun

Erythrophleum fordii

liên kiều

liên kiều
noun

(botany) Forsythia suspensa

liễu

liễu
noun

willow

long nhãn

long nhãn
noun

(dated or rare) longan

lài

lài
noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) jasmine

lá ngón

lá ngón
noun

Gelsemium elegans

lê

lê
noun

pear

verb

to drag (one's feet)

ló

ló
verb

to appear; to heave; to come into sight

lô hội

lô hội
noun

aloe

lúa

lúa
noun

rice (with seed still in stalk)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) paddy; unhusked rice
(slang) money

adj

Short for hai lúa (“rustic; bumpkinish”).

lúa Chiêm

lúa Chiêm
noun

fifth-month rice; summer crop

lúa chiêm

lúa chiêm
noun

Alternative letter-case form of lúa Chiêm

lược

lược
noun

a comb (toothed implement for grooming the hair)

verb

to prune; to abridge
to omit

lệ chi

lệ chi
noun

(obsolete) lychee

lồ ô

lồ ô
noun

certain species of bamboo, such as Bambusa procera

lục bình

lục bình
noun

(Southern Vietnam) water hyacinth

lựu

lựu
noun

pomegranate

mai

mai
noun

early morning
(colloquial) Short for ngày mai (“tomorrow”).
the hair in front of a person's ears, sideburns
Ochna integerrima, a tree species (sometimes shrub) of the family Ochnaceae, sometimes called apricot in English
(of crabs, turtles and tortoises) shell
a kind of shovel
(Southern Vietnam) matchmaker

me
noun

tamarind
mother

minh quyết

minh quyết
noun

(botany) carob (a flowering tree of the species Ceratonia siliqua)

minh ti

minh ti
noun

(rare, fiction) the underworld department, where cases concerning the dead are judged by King Yama
(botany) Chinese evergreen (flowering plant of the genus Aglaonema)

mua

mua
verb

to buy; to purchase
to bribe; to square
to bring upon oneself; to court

noun

melastoma (genus Melastoma)

muỗm

muỗm
noun

katydid, bush-cricket
Mangifera foetida, a species of flowering plants in the Mangifera (mango genus).
spoon

mác

mác
noun

scimitar
(calligraphy) H stroke (一)
marque, brand
mark, quota
mark (unit of currency)
mark (old unit of weight for gold etc.)

mâm xôi

mâm xôi
noun

(botany) berries of the genus Rubus, especially the raspberry

mây

mây
noun

cloud
rattan

mãng cầu

mãng cầu
noun

(Southern Vietnam) sugar apple

mè

mè
noun

bamboo rod used as a purlin or batten in a thatched roof
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) sesame
Short for cá mè.

mía

mía
noun

sugar cane

mít

mít
noun

jackfruit

adj

(chiefly in compounds) be hermetically closed
(vulgar) thick-headed; ignorant

mò

mò
noun

certain herbaceous plants

verb

to grope

mùi tây

mùi tây
noun

parsley

măng

măng
noun

bamboo shoot

măng cụt

măng cụt
noun

mangosteen

măng tây

măng tây
noun

asparagus

mẫu đơn

mẫu đơn
noun

peony

mận

mận
noun

(Northern Vietnam) plum
(Southern Vietnam) wax apple (Syzygium samarangense)

mắc cỡ

mắc cỡ
adj

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) shy; bashful

noun

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) touch-me-not; shy plant (Mimosa pudica)

mồng tơi

mồng tơi
noun

Basella alba; Malabar spinach

mộc lan

mộc lan
noun

(botany) a magnolia

mỡ

mỡ
noun

fat as part of flesh, or grease; compare chất béo (“fat in nutrition”)
(botany) Manglietia

na
noun

(Northern Vietnam) sugar apple (Annona squamosa)

nang

nang
noun

follicle
(obsolete) areca

nghệ

nghệ
noun

occupation, employment, trade, profession
turmeric

ngái

ngái
adj

(North Central Vietnam) far
having an unpleasant smell

noun

(botany) Ficus hispida

ngâu

ngâu
noun

various Aglaia species, such as Aglaia duperreana (ngâu ta) and Aglaia odorata (ngâu Tàu)
cow (in the context of the “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl” folktale)

adj

(sometimes capitalised) relating to (the beginning of) the seventh lunar month, when a sudden and brief shower falls; July shower

ngò

ngò
noun

cilantro (coriander leaf)

ngưu bàng

ngưu bàng
noun

Arctium lappa (greater burdock)

ngải

ngải
noun

(botany) Artemisia spp.

ngấy

ngấy
verb

to have one's appetite cloyed (by greasy or sweet food)
(colloquial) to be fed up with; to be tired of
(in compounds) to feel feverish

noun

Rubus cochinchinensis

ngọc lan tây

ngọc lan tây
noun

(botany) ylang ylang (a tree of the species Cananga odorata)

nha đam

nha đam
noun

aloe

nhang

nhang
noun

incense

nho

nho
adj

Alternative letter-case form of Nho (“Ruist; Confucianist”)

noun

grape

nhài

nhài
noun

(Northern Vietnam) jasmine
(Northern Vietnam) paper fan pin (fastening slats, originally jasmine-shaped)
(archaic, historical) maid; maidservant; abigail

nhàu

nhàu
noun

Morinda citrifolia, noni

adj

be wrinkled

nhân sâm

nhân sâm
noun

ginseng

nhíp

nhíp
noun

tweezers

verb

to sew

nhót

nhót
noun

Elaeagnus latifolia

nêu

nêu
verb

to raise (question, suggestion, etc.); to bring up; to set

noun

long bamboo pole traditionally erected during the Vietnamese lunar new year (Tết)

năng

năng
adv

frequently; often; habitually

noun

(botany) Short for cỏ năng (“water chestnut”).

nấm

nấm
noun

mushroom
(by extension) fungus
mound; tumulus (shaped like a mushroom cap, or pileus)

nắp ấm

nắp ấm
noun

(botany) Nepenthes

nến

nến
noun

(Northern Vietnam) a candle
wax

nứa

nứa
noun

Neohouzeaua (a genus of medium-sized tropical bamboo)

oải hương

oải hương
noun

lavender

phong

phong
noun

maple
package, bundle
leprosy

verb

(only in compounds) to wrap, to package
to assign a rank of nobility

phong cầm

phong cầm
noun

(dated, music) Synonym of ắc-coóc-đê-ông (“accordion”)

phong lan

phong lan
noun

(botany) an orchid

phượng

phượng
noun

Clipping of phượng hoàng (“fenghuang”).
Clipping of phượng vĩ (“royal poinciana”).

phượng vĩ

phượng vĩ
noun

(botany) the royal poinciana, the flamboyant

phật thủ

phật thủ
noun

Buddha's hand (fruit)

que

que
noun

small stick

quýt

quýt
noun

tangerine; mandarin orange

rau muống

rau muống
noun

water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), a green leafy vegetable used as a food in several cuisines of East and Southeast Asia

rau má

rau má
noun

centella (Centella asiatica)

rau sam

rau sam
noun

common purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

riềng

riềng
noun

Alpinia

roi

roi
noun

whip, rod
(Northern Vietnam) Syzygium samarangense (wax apple)

rong

rong
noun

seaweedlike algae
seaweed

adj

wandering

ráy

ráy
noun

earwax
giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos(
other similar plants in the Araceae family

râm bụt

râm bụt
noun

(botany) a flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, especially the Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

rìu

rìu
noun

an axe (tool)

rựa

rựa
noun

machete

sa kê

sa kê
noun

breadfruit

sam

sam
noun

a horseshoe crab
common purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

sao đen

sao đen
noun

Hopea odorata

sen

sen
noun

lotus
a maidservant
(slang, humorous) Owner of cat or dog.

si
noun

certain members of the Mallotus and Ficus genera

sim

sim
noun

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

song

song
noun

big rattan
(archaic, literary) window
Short for chấn song (“upright post in a paling or railing”).

prefix

bi-; double; parallel

adv

(formal) however
(formal) but

sui

sui
noun

Antiaris toxicaria
(Southern Vietnam) Short for sui gia.

sung

sung
noun

sycamore

sào

sào
noun

pole; stick

sáo

sáo
noun

blackbird
starling
myna
bamboo flute
bamboo screen

adj

clichéd; tired

sâm

sâm
noun

ginseng

sú

sú
noun

Aegiceras corniculatum

súng

súng
noun

water lily
gun

sơ ri

sơ ri
noun

acerola

sơn

sơn
noun

paint
Toxicodendron succedaneum

affix

mountain

sương sáo

sương sáo
noun

(Southern Vietnam) grass jelly

sả

sả
noun

lemongrass

verb

to cut into pieces, to chop up

sấu

sấu
noun

crocodile
(by extension) crocodilian
Dracontomelon duperreanum, a species of flowering plants in the Anacardiaceae (cashew family).
(by extension) The genus Dracontomelum.
Fruit of Dracontomelon duperreanum.

sầu riêng

sầu riêng
noun

durian

sậy

sậy
noun

reed

sến

sến
noun

Name for a number of plant species.

adj

overly romantic; old-fashionedly romantic; cheesy, sappy

sống đời

sống đời
verb

to live forever, to be everliving

noun

Kalanchoe pinnata

sồi

sồi
noun

oak
pongee

sở

sở
noun

sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua)
a workplace
(government) a department (the provincial equivalent of a bộ (“ministry”))

sữa

sữa
noun

milk (white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals to nourish their young)
milk (liquid from a vegetable source)
semen
Alstonia scholaris
Alstonia

thanh long

thanh long
noun

pitaya, dragon fruit

thiên điểu

thiên điểu
noun

(botany) bird of paradise

thuỷ tiên

thuỷ tiên
noun

narcissus (any of several bulbous flowering plants of the genus Narcissus)

thành ngữ

thành ngữ
noun

an idiom (language)

thánh giá

thánh giá
noun

(Christianity) cross (modified representation of the crucifixion stake); crucifix
(Christianity, figuratively) cross (difficult situation that must be endured)
(rare) imperial carriage

thích

thích
verb

to like

noun

maple

thông

thông
noun

pine (tree of the genus Pinus)
Short for thông phán (“secretary”).
Short for thông ngôn (“interpreter”).

verb

to go over or through (to); to run through; to travel through; to cross
to clear off; to unchoke; to unclog
to be in succession; to be non-stop; to be on end
to understand (thoroughly) and accept; to understand and agree to
to be familiar with; to master; to be fluent or conversant in
(archaic) to be sufficient; to be enough
(slang) to buttfuck; to do anal sex

adj

(Central Vietnam) good; skilled

thông rụng lá

thông rụng lá
noun

larch (Larix)

thơm

thơm
adj

fragrant, sweet-smelling; of a pleasant aroma

noun

a species of pineapple commonly found in southern Vietnam

verb

(colloquial, not on the lips) to kiss

thương

thương
noun

long-handled spear
lance
(only in compounds) commerce
(arithmetic) a quotient

affix

injury

verb

to love non-romantically
to feel sorry for
(Southern Vietnam, colloquial, euphemistic) to be in love with; to love romantically

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 傷
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 艙
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 蹡
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 瑲
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 殤
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 鏘
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 戧
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 槍
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 倉
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 蒼
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 觴
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 商

thước

thước
noun

a tool for measuring length
a Vietnamese yard, equal to 40 cm

thược dược

thược dược
noun

(botany) a dahlia

thạch tùng

thạch tùng
noun

common club moss, Lycopodium clavatum

thảo

thảo
noun

grasses and herbs

verb

to write, to draft
to be pious, to be generous, to be open-handed, to be devoted, to be virtuous, to be dutiful

thần chú

thần chú
noun

(occult) a spell; incantation; magical chant
(figuratively) a mantra

thầu dầu

thầu dầu
noun

(botany) castor oil plant; castor bean (a flowering plant of the species Ricinus communis)

thị

thị
noun

yellow persimmon (gold apple), Diospyros decandra
(only in compounds) market

pron

(archaic or literary or formal, derogatory) she/her, that criminal
(archaic or literary, derogatory) you, bitch

verb

(only in compounds) to see

thốt nốt

thốt nốt
noun

sugar palm, palmyra palm, wine palm

tre

tre
noun

bamboo

trung quân

trung quân
phrase

to be loyal to the monarch; loyalty to the monarch

noun

(archaic) Army of the Center, Central Army
Ancistrocladus tectorius, a plant species in the monogeneric family Ancistrocladaceae.

truyện ngắn

truyện ngắn
noun

short story

tràm

tràm
noun

melaleuca

trám

trám
noun

members of the genus Canarium

verb

to fill

trâm

trâm
noun

hairpin
certain species of plants

trúc

trúc
noun

a member of the genus of bamboo, Phyllostachys

trước

trước
prep

before (earlier than in time)
in front of

adv

before
ago

trượng

trượng
noun

(dated) stick, cane
(dated) staff, rod
(archaic) a unit of length
(North Central Vietnam) paternal uncle-in-law, father's sister's husband

trầu

trầu
noun

betel

trẩu

trẩu
noun

mu oil tree (Vernicia montana)
(neologism, slang) Contraction of trẻ trâu.

trời

trời
noun

the sky
weather
(sometimes capitalized) a generic deification of the sky that is said to be able to grant "natural gifts" (talent, good weather, etc.) and deal heavenly "punishments" (storms, lightning, etc.); he may be conflated with the Ngọc Hoàng (“Jade Emperor”) borrowed from Chinese myths; the heavenly lord; compare Chinese 老天 (literally “old heaven”)

adj

(of anseriforms) wild
Used after ngày, tháng, or năm to emphasize a lengthy duration

intj

(colloquial) good Lord!

trứng cá

trứng cá
noun

(literally) a fish egg(s); roe
Muntingia calabura
Short for mụn trứng cá (“acne pimple”).

trứng gà

trứng gà
noun

chicken egg
the canistel, a tropical fruit (Pouteria campechiana)

tu-líp

tu-líp
noun

(botany) a tulip

tulip

tulip
noun

(botany) a tulip

táo

táo
noun

apple
jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana)
(rare) jujube (Ziziphus jujuba); jharber (Ziziphus nummularia)
(Southern Vietnam) plum
(colloquial) constipation

romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 澡
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 躁
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 掃
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 臊
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 燥
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 氉
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 竈
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 扫
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 噪
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 趮
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 譟
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 棗
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 灶
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 棘
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 埽
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 喿
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 橾

táo ta

táo ta
noun

(botany) Indian jujube; Indian plum; Chinese apple; dunks (of the species Ziziphus mauritiana)
(botany) jharber (of the species Ziziphus nummularia)
(botany) a tree of the genus Ziziphus (generally)

táo tàu

táo tàu
noun

(botany) Chinese jujube; Chinese date; red date (of the species Ziziphus jujuba)

táo tây

táo tây
noun

(botany) apple (of the species Malus domestica)

tì bà

tì bà
noun

pipa (pear-shaped plucked lute) or one of its derivatives (Vietnamese dan ty ba, Japanese biwa, Korean bipa)
loquat

tía tô

tía tô
noun

perilla

tăm

tăm
noun

a toothpick
little air bubbles
(by exension) one's trace

tầm gửi

tầm gửi
noun

mistletoe

tầm vông

tầm vông
noun

certain species of bamboo

tầm xuân

tầm xuân
noun

dog rose

tắc

tắc
noun

(Southern Vietnam) kumquat

verb

to be blocked; to be obstructed

tỏi

tỏi
noun

garlic

tục ngữ

tục ngữ
noun

a proverb (phrase expressing a basic truth)

vang

vang
verb

to echo; to resound

noun

(colloquial) Short for rượu vang (“wine”).
sappanwood (Biancaea sappan)

vi-ô-lông

vi-ô-lông
noun

a violin

viết

viết
verb

to write

noun

(Southern Vietnam) non-chalk handheld writing instrument

viết chì

viết chì
noun

(Southern Vietnam) a pencil (graphite writing-instrument)

viễn chí

viễn chí
noun

milkwort (flowering medicinal herb of the genus Polygala)

vè

vè
noun

(poetry) a rhyming poetic and song form, most typical of northern Vietnam
(rare) shoot (of rice plant)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) pole erected to mark water level in a river or ditch
(Southern Vietnam) mudguard

verb

(Southern Vietnam) to draw near or nearer
(Southern Vietnam) to come alongside (another boat)

vú sữa

vú sữa
noun

the star apple fruit, Chrysophyllum cainito

vĩ

vĩ
noun

(music) bow
(only in compounds) latitude
(only in compounds) great, grand

vĩ cầm

vĩ cầm
noun

(dated) Synonym of vi-ô-lông (“violin”)

vạn thọ

vạn thọ
noun

(botany) Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta)

vả

vả
verb

to slap

noun

(botany) Ficus auriculata

adv

besides, again

vải

vải
noun

cloth, fabric
lychee

vầu

vầu
noun

Bambusa nutans

vẹt

vẹt
noun

(zoology) parrot
kite (flying toy on string)
Bruguiera, six species of mangrove plants of coastal areas from east Africa to northern Australia.

vối

vối
noun

Syzygium nervosum

vợt

vợt
noun

hand net; scoop net
racquet; bat

verb

to catch with a hand net

vừng

vừng
noun

(Northern Vietnam) sesame

xa pô chê

xa pô chê
noun

(Southern Vietnam) sapodilla (Manilkara zapota)

xoan

xoan
noun

(botany) bead tree; chinaberry, Melia azedarach

xoay

xoay
verb

to turn, to swivel

noun

Dialium cochinchinense

xoài

xoài
noun

mango

xà

xà
noun

squared beam (in a house)
Short for xà đơn (“horizontal bar”), xà kép (“parallel bars”) or xà lệch (“uneven bars”).

xà cừ

xà cừ
noun

Khaya senegalensis
mother-of-pearl, nacre

xà mâu

xà mâu
noun

(archaic, historical romance) snake lance, a kind of long lance
(bệnh ~) (medicine) mange

xí hổ

xí hổ
adj

shy; bashful; embarrassed

noun

touch-me-not; shy plant (Mimosa pudica)

xăm

xăm
verb

to tattoo

noun

oracle; fortune stick (in temples)

xương rắn

xương rắn
noun

Euphorbia milii, the crown of thorns

xương rồng

xương rồng
noun

cactus

xấu hổ

xấu hổ
verb

to be ashamed; to be embarrassed
to be bashful; to be shy

noun

touch-me-not; shy plant (Mimosa pudica)

ác-ti-sô

ác-ti-sô
noun

(botany) artichoke

é
noun

(botany) lemon basil

óc chó

óc chó
noun

walnut

adj

(offensive) stupid, silly

ô-liu

ô-liu
noun

olive

ý dĩ

ý dĩ
noun

Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)

đa

đa
noun

(botany) banyan

đao

đao
noun

a Chinese sabre
(rare) a katana
Down syndrome

đay

đay
noun

jute (genus Corchorus, especially the jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius)

verb

to nag; to grumble

đinh

đinh
noun

a nail (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials)
(history) an adult man who has to contribute some type of tax (for being an adult man), or is subject to conscription
a share of fees that a male member is expected to contribute to his extended family's mutual fund

đinh ba

đinh ba
noun

(fiction, weaponry) the 九齒釘耙 (Cửu Xỉ Đinh Bá, literally “Nine-Toothed Rake”), the weapon of the magical pig man Zhu Bajie in Journey to the West
(weaponry) a trident

điều

điều
noun