you (used for young person in their twenties)
(narratology) you (used to preferring to the one experiencing the story; the reader, the viewer, etc.)
(especially Southern Vietnam) you (used for a stranger who is roughly the same age as the speaker)

verb

(obsolete, literary) to revolt against; to oppose the higher power

bộ đội

bộ đội
noun

a serviceperson of Vietnam's armed forces

chim có tổ, người có tông

chim có tổ, người có tông
proverb

(literally) birds have nests, people have lineages
(figuratively) one should never forget about one's ancestry

chiến binh

chiến binh
noun

a warrior; combatant; fighter

chùa

chùa
noun

Buddhist monastery; temple; pagoda

adj

(colloquial, informal) free, uncharged
(colloquial, informal) pirate (unlicensed)

adv

(colloquial, informal) for free, without charge

chỉ điểm

chỉ điểm
verb

to point out; to pinpoint; to indicate

noun

an informer; informant; spy

chị gái

chị gái
noun

(chiefly literary) Synonym of chị (“elder sister”)

pron

(rather childish) Synonym of chị (“you, that sister over there who I'm assuming is a little older than me”)

chợ

chợ
noun

a market (a kind of spacious site or gathering for trading)

chủ nhật

chủ nhật
noun

(proscribed) Alternative letter-case form of Chủ nhật

con gái

con gái
noun

girl (young female)
daughter

cờ

cờ
noun

flag; banner; standard; vexillum; streamer
vexillum (upper petal of a papilionaceous flower)
a board game in which there are pieces, such as chess, go, shogi, xiangqi, etc., or tokens such as bootleg Monopoly, Ludo, etc.

giáo

giáo
noun

lance, spear

affix

of teaching or educating

suffix

religion

gió

gió
noun

wind (movement of air)
(alternative medicine) harmful elements that are believed to cause fevers, especially if the patient is exposed to a lot of wind, commonly thought of as actual harmful winds that can penetrate the body and that can be guarded against with silver-coated necklaces, wristbands or ankle bands

hoa cười, ngọc thốt

hoa cười, ngọc thốt
phrase

to smile bright like a flower and speak as beautiful as a gem

hải đăng

hải đăng
noun

a lighthouse

khói

khói
noun

smoke

lao

lao
noun

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

verb

to plunge; to dart

làng

làng
noun

(especially Northern Vietnam) a village (rural habitation of size between a hamlet and a town)
(colloquial) circles; world

lính

lính
noun

(military) a servicemember; soldier; trooper
(figuratively) a subordinate; drone

miếu

miếu
noun

temple, shrine

miễu

miễu
noun

(Southern Vietnam) village shrine

mộ gió

mộ gió
noun

empty grave of a soldier whose corpse cannot be found

nga

nga
noun

(archaic, literary) Only used in tố nga (“the moon”).
(archaic, literary) Only used in tiên nga (“angel; fairy”).
Only used in thiên nga (“swan”).

nga ngố

nga ngố
adj

(informal) clumsy and silly
(slang, humorous) of Russia, Russian

noun

(slang, humorous) Russia

ngai

ngai
noun

a throne (ornate seat)

ngan

ngan
noun

Muscovy duck

ngang

ngang
adj

horizontal
to the side
unreasonably stubborn
level; flat

adv

across, as opposed to along

verb

to match; to be equal

ngang bướng

ngang bướng
adj

obstinate; stubborn

ngang hàng

ngang hàng
verb

to be on par with

ngang ngược

ngang ngược
adj

perverse; defiant; unruly; obstinate; recalcitrant

ngang ngửa

ngang ngửa
adj

disorderly; topsy-turvy
equal; equivalent; comparable

ngang nhau

ngang nhau
adj

equal; even; to be identical (with); the same (as)

ngang nhiên

ngang nhiên
adj

bold, presumptuous

ngang tàng

ngang tàng
adj

arrogant, very proud

ngao

ngao
verb

(of a cat) to meow

noun

certain bivalves

ngay

ngay
adj

(now chiefly in compounds and certain expressions) direct; straight
(literary) honest
as soon as, straight away

ngay cả

ngay cả
adv

even; even if

ngay lập tức

ngay lập tức
adv

immediately, posthaste

ngay ngáy

ngay ngáy
adv

(colloquial) nervously; uneasily

ngay ngắn

ngay ngắn
adj

tidy and regular; orderly (and not slanting, crooked); neat

ngay thật

ngay thật
adj

sincere; honest; humble

ngay tức thì

ngay tức thì
adv

immediately; instantly

ngay và luôn

ngay và luôn
adv

(colloquial, slang) right now; straight away

nghe

nghe
verb

to hear
to listen
to obey
to sound
(colloquial, chiefly Northern Vietnam) to smell

particle

(colloquial, chiefly Central Vietnam and Southern Vietnam) okay?

nghe lời

nghe lời
verb

(transitive) to obey; to follow someone's advice

nghe nói

nghe nói
verb

to hear it said that; to hear tell

nghe phong thanh

nghe phong thanh
verb

to have heard on the grapevine

nghen

nghen
particle

(Southern Vietnam, colloquial) Synonym of nhé

nghi

nghi
verb

to doubt, to suspect

nghi hoặc

nghi hoặc
verb

to doubt; to suspect; to be suspicious (of)

adj

doubtful; skeptical; suspicious

adv

dubiously; skeptically; suspiciously

noun

a doubt; suspicion

nghi kị

nghi kị
verb

to be suspicious (especially for jealous reasons)

adj

suspicious

adv

suspiciously

nghi lễ

nghi lễ
noun

ceremony; rite

nghi ngút

nghi ngút
verb

(of smoke) to rise in curls

nghi ngờ

nghi ngờ
verb

to doubt; to suspect

nghi phạm

nghi phạm
noun

criminal suspect

nghi thức

nghi thức
noun

form
formality
ceremony

nghi vấn

nghi vấn
adj

doubtful; questionable
(grammar) interrogative

noun

doubt

nghi án

nghi án
noun

doubtful legal case; disputed case; mysterious case

nghiêm

nghiêm
adj

strict, grave, stern

nghiêm chỉnh

nghiêm chỉnh
adj

strict; stern; rigid (especially of people)

adv

strictly; rigidly; rigorously

nghiêm cấm

nghiêm cấm
verb

to completely prohibit; strictly forbid

nghiêm khắc

nghiêm khắc
adj

severe; stern; harsh; strict

nghiêm ngặt

nghiêm ngặt
adj

very strict; stringent

nghiêm trang

nghiêm trang
adj

important; serious; solemn; sombre; austere
dignified; imposing; awe-inspiring; portentous

nghiêm trọng

nghiêm trọng
adj

serious; grave; critical

nghiêm túc

nghiêm túc
adj

serious

nghiên

nghiên
noun

inkstone

nghiên cứu

nghiên cứu
verb

to research; to study intensively

noun

a study; scholarly investigation

nghiên cứu sinh

nghiên cứu sinh
noun

a doctorate student

nghiêng

nghiêng
adj

tilted, leaning, oblique, lopsided

nghiêng nghiêng

nghiêng nghiêng
adj

slightly slanted

nghiêng nước nghiêng thành

nghiêng nước nghiêng thành
adj

(archaic, idiomatic, of a human beauty) extremely beautiful and attractive

nghiến

nghiến
verb

to grind, clench or grit (one's teeth)

adv

(colloquial) immediately (and quickly); instantly

nghiền

nghiền
verb

to grind; to crush; to pound
(colloquial) to cram; to swot
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of nghiện (“to be addicted (to); to give oneself up (to)”)

nghiền ngẫm

nghiền ngẫm
verb

to pore over; to ponder on; to think over; to ruminate

nghiễm nhiên

nghiễm nhiên
adv

without further ado, without trouble

nghiệm

nghiệm
verb

to realize something after thinking thoroughly
(only in compounds) to consider

noun

(mathematics) a zero (value of a function’s independent variables when the value of the function is zero)

nghiện

nghiện
verb

to be addicted to

nghiệp

nghiệp
noun

trade, profession
(Buddhism) karma

nghiệp dư

nghiệp dư
adj

amateur; non-professional

nghiệp quật

nghiệp quật
verb

(neologism) to get hit by karma

nghiệp vụ

nghiệp vụ
noun

professional competence or knowledge; specialist skill; specialty

nghiệt

nghiệt
adj

harsh; stern; cruel

nghiệt ngã

nghiệt ngã
adj

severe; harsh; strict

nghèo

nghèo
adj

poor

nghèo khó

nghèo khó
adj

needy; indigent

nghèo khổ

nghèo khổ
adj

poor and wretched; extremely poor

nghèo nàn

nghèo nàn
adj

poor; needy; poverty-stricken (generally speaking)

nghèo rớt mồng tơi

nghèo rớt mồng tơi
adj

(idiomatic, figuratively, humorous) so damn broke; so financially wanting

nghé

nghé
intj

(onomatopoeia) The cry of a water buffalo calf

noun

water buffalo calf; baby water buffalo

nghén

nghén
adj

to be pregnant

verb

to have morning sickness

nghê

nghê
noun

a creature that has the traits of a dog and a lion, serves as a guardian of temples, similar to a Chinese guardian lion

nghênh

nghênh
verb

(only in compounds) to welcome

nghênh ngang

nghênh ngang
adj

haughty, arrogant, overweening, high and mighty

nghênh xuân

nghênh xuân
verb

to welcome the spring

nghêu

nghêu
noun

clam

nghìm

nghìm
noun

thousand

nghìn

nghìn
num

(cardinal number, especially Northern Vietnam, only in compounds) thousand

nghía

nghía
verb

to peek; to take a peek

nghĩ

nghĩ
verb

to think, to contemplate

nghĩ ngợi

nghĩ ngợi
verb

to ponder (over); to reflect (on); to consider carefully

nghĩ ra

nghĩ ra
verb

to imagine, to come up with

nghĩ sao

nghĩ sao
adv

(literally) how do you think
(Southern Vietnam, informal) how the hell; how in the world; what were you thinking?

nghĩ đến

nghĩ đến
verb

to think about; to think of; to consider

nghĩa

nghĩa
noun

(semantics) a meaning; a sense
(literary) morality, decency

nghĩa bóng

nghĩa bóng
noun

(semantics) a figurative meaning

nghĩa hiệp

nghĩa hiệp
adj

chivalrous

nghĩa huynh

nghĩa huynh
noun

(literary) sworn elder brother, elder blood brother (unrelated male older than oneself one has a strong relationship with)

nghĩa trang

nghĩa trang
noun

(formal) cemetery, graveyard

nghĩa vụ

nghĩa vụ
noun

duty; responsibility; obligation
(colloquial) Short for nghĩa vụ quân sự (“military service”).

nghĩa đen

nghĩa đen
noun

(semantics) a literal meaning

nghĩa đệ

nghĩa đệ
noun

(literary) sworn younger brother, younger blood brother (unrelated male younger than oneself one has a strong relationship with)

nghĩa địa

nghĩa địa
noun

(colloquial) cemetery, graveyard

nghẹ

nghẹ
noun

soot

nghẹn

nghẹn
verb

to be choked (while eating)

nghẹn ngào

nghẹn ngào
verb

to choke with emotion (while speaking)

nghẹo

nghẹo
verb

to tilt one's head, to hang one's head to a side

nghẹt

nghẹt
adj

be stuffed (full or packed)

nghẽn

nghẽn
verb

to block; to be blocked; to be obstructed

nghẽn tắc

nghẽn tắc
verb

to be blocked; to be obstructed

nghếch

nghếch
verb

look bewildered, look puzzled
look up (at something)

nghề

nghề
noun

trade; profession

nghề của chàng

nghề của chàng
noun

(literally) his profession
(humorous, used by a male in response to a compliment on his successful execution of a task) just a piece of cake to me; my middle name

nghề của nàng

nghề của nàng
noun

(literally) her profession
(humorous, used by a female in response to a compliment on her successful execution of a task) just a piece of cake to me; my middle name

nghề nghiệp

nghề nghiệp
noun

profession

nghề ngỗng

nghề ngỗng
noun

(colloquial, derogatory) occupation; job (i.e. some shady business)

nghệ

nghệ
noun

occupation, employment, trade, profession
turmeric

nghệ danh

nghệ danh
noun

a stage name

nghệ nhân

nghệ nhân
noun

craftsman, artisan, artist (in the traditional arts)

nghệ sĩ

nghệ sĩ
noun

(chiefly film, television) a specialist in humanities; an artist, painter, musician, actor, comic, etc.

nghệ sĩ nhân dân

nghệ sĩ nhân dân
noun

(art) a senior honorary title bestowed on humanities specialists who have greatly contributed to Vietnam's entertainment arts over 20 years, with the prerequisite of having already been a nghệ sĩ ưu tú

nghệ sĩ ưu tú

nghệ sĩ ưu tú
noun

(art) a junior honorary title bestowed on humanities specialists who have greatly contributed to Vietnam's entertainment arts over 10 or 15 years

nghệ thuật

nghệ thuật
noun

nghệ tây

nghệ tây
noun

saffron (Crocus sativus)

nghỉ

nghỉ
verb

to take a break
to get to temporarily leave work (e.g., for holiday/vacation, for pregnancy, etc.)
(figuratively, euphemistic) to die

pron

(archaic, literary) he; him
(archaic, literary) she; her

nghỉ dưỡng

nghỉ dưỡng
verb

to rest or relax to restore one's energy

nghỉ hè

nghỉ hè
noun

summer holiday; summer vacation

nghỉ hưu

nghỉ hưu
verb

to retire

nghỉ lễ

nghỉ lễ
noun

holiday

nghỉ mát

nghỉ mát
verb

to go to a resort on holiday/vacation

nghỉ ngơi

nghỉ ngơi
verb

to rest

nghỉ phép

nghỉ phép
verb

to be on leave; to take leave

nghỉ việc

nghỉ việc
verb

to be off work; to be absent from work

nghị

nghị
verb

(only in compounds) to discuss, to deliberate

nghị luận

nghị luận
noun

(writing) criticism

nghị lực

nghị lực
noun

willpower

nghị quyết

nghị quyết
noun

resolution; decision (after a formal meeting)

nghị sĩ

nghị sĩ
noun

A member of any legislative body.
A member of the lower house of a parliament; Member of Parliament, parliamentarian, congressman.
A member of the upper house of a parliament; senator.
A member of the National Assembly of Vietnam.

nghị sự

nghị sự
noun

agenda item
business (matters that come before a body for deliberation or action)

nghị trình

nghị trình
noun

agenda (a list of matters to be taken up (as at a meeting))

nghị viên

nghị viên
noun

Synonym of nghị sĩ (“parliamentarian”)

nghị viện

nghị viện
noun

parliament

nghị định

nghị định
noun

decree; enactment; edict

nghịch

nghịch
adj

(rare, of a limb) non{l|en|dominant}}
(mathematics, of a relationship between two variables) inversely proportional

verb

(usually of a child) to fiddle or play around with something
(chiefly Northern Vietnam, usually of a child) to be playfully naughty

nghịch cảnh

nghịch cảnh
noun

adversity

nghịch lí

nghịch lí
noun

(mathematics) paradox

nghịch ngợm

nghịch ngợm
adj

playful; mischievous.

nghịch đảo

nghịch đảo
adj

(mathematics) inverse

nghịt

nghịt
adj

tightly packed

ngoa

ngoa
adj

(speaking) untruthful; deceitful; boastful; sharp-tongued

ngoan

ngoan
adj

good; well-behaved; well-mannered; submissive

ngoan cố

ngoan cố
adj

stubborn; obstinate

ngoan ngoãn

ngoan ngoãn
adj

obedient; docile; well-behaved

adv

obediently

ngoi

ngoi
verb

to emerge, to rise up (from a surface)

ngon

ngon
adj

delicious; tasty; succulent
(slang) good, great

adv

(in certain expressions) well

ngon giấc

ngon giấc
verb

to sleep soundly

ngon lành

ngon lành
adj

tasty; delicious (generally speaking)
(colloquial, chiefly in the negative) good, beneficial

adv

(in certain expressions) well, with enthusiasm

ngon miệng

ngon miệng
adj

appetising, delicious
with great appetite

ngon mắt

ngon mắt
adj

(colloquial) pleasant to the eye; attractive

ngon ngọt

ngon ngọt
adj

tasty, delicious
smooth-tongued, honeyed, smooth-spoken

ngon ăn

ngon ăn
adj

(colloquial or slang) easy; unchallenging
(colloquial or slang) profitable

ngoài

ngoài
prep

outside (of an interior or enclosed space)
out (through an opening)
in/at (an outdoor or external location)
in (a place in northern Vietnam)
outside (of); except (for); other than

adj

outside; external

ngoài cuộc

ngoài cuộc
adj

outside

ngoài cùng

ngoài cùng
adj

outermost

ngoài giá thú

ngoài giá thú
adj

(of a child) illegitimate

adv

(of birth giving) illegitimately; out of wedlock

ngoài ra

ngoài ra
adv

besides; additionally; in addition

ngoái

ngoái
verb

to turn (one's head) round

ngoáo ộp

ngoáo ộp
noun

bugaboo, bugbear

ngoáy

ngoáy
verb

to twirl one's finger inside something
(placed after the main verb) to do something quickly

ngoé

ngoé
noun

small frog

ngoém

ngoém
verb

To wolf down, consume food quickly.

ngoại

ngoại
prep

(rare) Synonym of ngoài (“except for”)

adj

(usually in compounds) foreign
related to the mother's side of the family

noun

(usually in compounds) everything foreign
(Southern Vietnam, used as a kinship "pronoun") maternal grandparent

ngoại bang

ngoại bang
noun

foreign country

ngoại bào

ngoại bào
adj

(biology) extracellular

ngoại cảnh

ngoại cảnh
noun

surroundings; environment; external circumstances (generally speaking)

ngoại giao

ngoại giao
noun

diplomacy

ngoại hình

ngoại hình
noun

outward appearance (of a person)

ngoại hạng

ngoại hạng
noun

exceptional; top-level

ngoại hối

ngoại hối
noun

foreign exchange; foreign currency

ngoại khoa

ngoại khoa
noun

(medicine) surgery (medical specialty)

ngoại khoá

ngoại khoá
adj

(education) extracurricular

ngoại lai

ngoại lai
adj

foreign; alien

ngoại lệ

ngoại lệ
noun

exception

ngoại ngữ

ngoại ngữ
noun

foreign language

ngoại quốc

ngoại quốc
noun

foreign country

ngoại thành

ngoại thành
noun

suburb; outskirts

ngoại thương

ngoại thương
noun

foreign trade

ngoại thất

ngoại thất
noun

(architecture) exterior

ngoại tiếp

ngoại tiếp
adj

(geometry, of a curve) circumscribing

ngoại truyện

ngoại truyện
noun

a side story

ngoại trú

ngoại trú
adv

(of a student's or patient's way of living) not inside a school or a hospital

ngoại trừ

ngoại trừ
verb

to except

ngoại tuyến

ngoại tuyến
adj

(networking) offline

adv

(networking) offline

ngoại tình

ngoại tình
noun

love affair; adultery

ngoại tệ

ngoại tệ
noun

foreign currency

ngoại viện

ngoại viện
adj

(medicine) out-of-hospital, in the field

ngoại vụ

ngoại vụ
noun

foreign affairs

ngoại ô

ngoại ô
noun

suburbs; outskirts

ngoại độc tố

ngoại độc tố
noun

exotoxin

ngoại động từ

ngoại động từ
noun

a transitive verb

ngoạm

ngoạm
verb

to grab (by mouth)

ngoạn mục

ngoạn mục
adj

pleasant to the eyes; picturesque; spectacular; beautiful

ngoải

ngoải
pron

(Southern Vietnam, colloquial) that place outside; out there; outside
(Southern Vietnam, colloquial) she or he (referring to one's ông ngoại or bà ngoại)

ngoảnh

ngoảnh
verb

to turn one's head; to turn around

ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại

ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại
phrase

(colloquial) Describes time passing in a flash.

ngoảy

ngoảy
verb

to turn away in anger

ngoắc

ngoắc
verb

hang (on a hook), hook

ngoắt

ngoắt
verb

Synonym of ngoặt (“to turn in another direction”)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam, colloquial) to wag; to wave; to wiggle

ngoằn ngoèo

ngoằn ngoèo
adj

sinuous, serpentine

ngoặc

ngoặc
noun

a hook
(typography) Short for dấu ngoặc đơn (“parenthesis”).
(typography) Short for dấu ngoặc kép (“double quotation mark”).

ngoặc kép

ngoặc kép
noun

quotation marks, either "curly" quotes, or sometimes in old-fashioned handwriting, guillemets that are raised to the same height as "curly" quotes

ngoặc vuông

ngoặc vuông
noun

square brackets

ngoặc đơn

ngoặc đơn
noun

round brackets; parentheses

ngoặt

ngoặt
verb

to turn (something) suddenly in another direction

ngoẹo

ngoẹo
verb

to turn (head, etc.) to one side
(Central Vietnam, Northern Vietnam) to turn; to make a turn

ngu

ngu
adj

stupid; idiotic; moronic

ngu muội

ngu muội
adj

ignorant, completely dim-headed

ngu ngốc

ngu ngốc
adj

dull, dull-headed

ngu si

ngu si
adj

(derogatory) extremely stupid; utterly moronic

ngu xuẩn

ngu xuẩn
adj

very stupid; brainless; slow-witted

ngu đần

ngu đần
adj

(offensive) moronic, dim-witted, brainless

nguy

nguy
adj

dangerous; perilous

nguy cơ

nguy cơ
noun

the risk, odds or likelihood of something disastrous happening

nguy cấp

nguy cấp
adj

dangerous and pressing

nguy hiểm

nguy hiểm
adj

dangerous; hazardous
(slang) pretentious; presumptuous; pompous; conceited

noun

danger

nguy hại

nguy hại
adj

harmful; deleterious

nguy kịch

nguy kịch
adj

critical; serious

nguy ngập

nguy ngập
adj

menacing; perilous; critical

nguyên

nguyên
adj

(only in compounds) first; essential; basic
intact; not damaged
all; entire; whole
(number theory, arithmetic) integral

noun

(numismatics) yuan. See also viên 圓.
(only in compounds) foundation; basis; background
(law) plaintiff
(only in compounds) spring; source

prefix

(officialese) former

nguyên bản

nguyên bản
noun

original

nguyên chất

nguyên chất
adj

pure; unadulterated

noun

(obsolete) a chemical element

nguyên cám

nguyên cám
adj

whole-wheat

nguyên cớ

nguyên cớ
noun

reason, cause

nguyên hình

nguyên hình
noun

(Chinese mythology, folklore, of a shapeshifting monster in disguise) the original, true form

nguyên liệu

nguyên liệu
noun

raw material

nguyên lí

nguyên lí
noun

principle, practical reformulation of some fundamental law

nguyên mẫu

nguyên mẫu
noun

(grammar) infinitive

nguyên nhân

nguyên nhân
noun

cause, reason

nguyên niên

nguyên niên
noun

(historical) the first year of an imperial era

nguyên quán

nguyên quán
noun

birthplace; hometown; native land

nguyên sinh

nguyên sinh
adj

primordial; primeval; uncontaminated and undeveloped
(biology) protoplasmic; protozoic; eukaryotic
(geology) Proterozoic

nguyên soái

nguyên soái
noun

(military) a marshal

nguyên sơ

nguyên sơ
adj

primordial; original; early
(figuratively) pristine; untainted; natural

nguyên thuỷ

nguyên thuỷ
adj

(mythology, religion) primordial
primitive

nguyên thủ quốc gia

nguyên thủ quốc gia
noun

a head of state

nguyên tắc

nguyên tắc
noun

principle

nguyên tắc vàng

nguyên tắc vàng
noun

golden rule

nguyên tố

nguyên tố
noun

a chemical element

nguyên tử

nguyên tử
noun

(physics, chemistry) an atom

nguyên văn

nguyên văn
adv

verbatim
sic

noun

the original text

nguyên vẹn

nguyên vẹn
adj

intact; whole; undamaged

nguyên âm

nguyên âm
noun

(linguistics) vowel

nguyên âm đôi

nguyên âm đôi
noun

diphthong

nguyên đán

nguyên đán
noun

(lunisolar) new year

nguyền

nguyền
verb

(literary) to wish for; to long for
(literary) to swear; to vow; to promise on oath

nguyện

nguyện
verb

(literary) to vow to; to swear an oath to

nguyện vọng

nguyện vọng
noun

hope; aspiration

nguyệt

nguyệt
noun

(literary, archaic) Moon
(literary, dated, only in compounds) month

nguyệt báo

nguyệt báo
noun

monthly newspaper

nguyệt cầm

nguyệt cầm
noun

Synonym of đàn nguyệt (“moon lute”)

nguyệt quế

nguyệt quế
noun

bay laurel

nguyệt san

nguyệt san
noun

monthly magazine

nguyệt thực

nguyệt thực
noun

a lunar eclipse

nguôi

nguôi
adj

(of emotions, usually anger) to calm down

nguồn

nguồn
noun

source
spring

nguồn cội

nguồn cội
noun

root; origin; source

nguồn gốc

nguồn gốc
noun

origin

nguồn lực

nguồn lực
noun

resource

nguồn mở

nguồn mở
adj

(software) open-source

nguội

nguội
adj

(of foods and drinks) cold but not very cold, as in at an average temperature such as room temperature; compare lạnh (“cold; chilly”, at an actually low temperature)

nguỵ

nguỵ
noun

Clipping of Mĩ nguỵ.

nguỵ biện

nguỵ biện
verb

to use sophistry

nguỵ khoa học

nguỵ khoa học
noun

pseudoscience

nguỵ quân tử

nguỵ quân tử
noun

hypocrite

nguỵ trang

nguỵ trang
verb

to disguise, to camouflage

nguỵ tạo

nguỵ tạo
adj

fake

ngà

ngà
noun

(of an elephant) a tusk
ivory

ngà ngà

ngà ngà
adj

tipsy; squiffy

ngài

ngài
noun

(North Central Vietnam) human
moth

pron

(highly formal, respectful) you
(highly formal, respectful) he, him
(highly formal, respectful, rare) she, her

ngàn

ngàn
num

(cardinal number, literary or Central Vietnam or Southern Vietnam, usually in compounds) Alternative form of nghìn (“thousand”)

noun

(literary) the woods; the forest

ngàn cân treo sợi tóc

ngàn cân treo sợi tóc
phrase

precarious, on thin ice

ngàn thu

ngàn thu
noun

(literally) a thousand autumns

adj

(figuratively) eternal

ngàn vàng

ngàn vàng
adj

very valuable; invaluable; priceless

ngành

ngành
noun

(economics) an industry, a sector
(education) a postsecondary major
(taxonomy) a phylum

ngành nghề

ngành nghề
noun

profession, field, career

ngày

ngày
noun

day
date
daytime

ngày Tết

ngày Tết
name

Vietnamese New Year; Tết holiday

ngày càng

ngày càng
adv

more and more (as days go by)

ngày cá tháng tư

ngày cá tháng tư
noun

April Fools' Day

ngày kia

ngày kia
noun

(Northern Vietnam) day after tomorrow

ngày lễ

ngày lễ
noun

holiday, feast day

ngày lễ Các Thánh

ngày lễ Các Thánh
noun

All Saints' Day, All Hallows' Day

ngày lễ Nô-en

ngày lễ Nô-en
noun

Christmas Day

ngày mai

ngày mai
adv

tomorrow
(literary) the future

ngày mốt

ngày mốt
noun

overmorrow; the day after tomorrow

ngày nay

ngày nay
adv

nowadays; these days

ngày nghỉ

ngày nghỉ
noun

day off

ngày ngày

ngày ngày
adv

(literary) every day

ngày nảy ngày nay

ngày nảy ngày nay
phrase

(narratology, humorous) nowadays; in this day and age

ngày rày

ngày rày
adv

by this time, on this date (in another year)

ngày sinh

ngày sinh
noun

date of birth, birthdate

ngày sinh tháng đẻ

ngày sinh tháng đẻ
noun

date of birth

ngày tháng

ngày tháng
noun

date; time

ngày xửa ngày xưa

ngày xửa ngày xưa
phrase

(narratology) long ago; once upon a time

ngá ngởn

ngá ngởn
adv

(Southern Vietnam) carelessly; without paying much attention or regard to one's surrounding

ngách

ngách
noun

small and narrow branch (of river)
back street; alley

ngái

ngái
adj

(North Central Vietnam) far
having an unpleasant smell

noun

(botany) Ficus hispida

ngái ngủ

ngái ngủ
adj

sleepy after already waking up

ngám

ngám
verb

to fit, to be just right

ngán

ngán
adj

to be bored
(figuratively, colloquial) having boredom in doing something

ngán ngẩm

ngán ngẩm
adj

bored (of); sick (of); having had enough (of)

ngáo

ngáo
adj

(colloquial) Short for ngáo đá (“be high/intoxicated after using methamphetamine”).
(colloquial) acting stupidly

ngáp

ngáp
verb

to yawn

ngát

ngát
adj

very (sweet); fragrant; aromatic
(of colour) nice and fresh, spreading out widely

ngáy

ngáy
verb

to snore

ngâm

ngâm
verb

to soak or steep
(poetry) to recite

ngâm nga

ngâm nga
verb

to croon; to chant

ngâm ngợi

ngâm ngợi
verb

(rare) to compose and recite a poem (to express one's feelings)

ngân

ngân
noun

(Sino-Vietnamese, only in compounds) silver

verb

to vibrate; to resound

ngân hàng

ngân hàng
noun

a bank (financial institution)

ngân nga

ngân nga
verb

to sing quietly; to hum

ngân quỹ

ngân quỹ
noun

budget; fund

ngân sách

ngân sách
noun

budget (in finance)

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

ngây

ngây
adj

looking stupid; looking naive; looking stupefied; catatonic

ngây dại

ngây dại
adj

naive
inexperienced, unsophisticated
foolish, stupid, silly
(of face, smile) inane

ngây ngô

ngây ngô
adj

dull; stupid

ngây thơ

ngây thơ
adj

naive; innocent; unsophisticated; inexperienced

ngây thơ như con cầy tơ

ngây thơ như con cầy tơ
adj

(teen rhyming slang) too naive

ngã

ngã
verb

(chiefly Northern Vietnam) to fall (due to lack of balance)

noun

(linguistics) Short for thanh ngã.
(almost always in compounds with an integer greater than 2) an intersection

ngã ngũ

ngã ngũ
adj

(of a fight, etc.) definite, final

ngã ngựa

ngã ngựa
verb

(literally) to fall from a horse
(figuratively) to lose one's power, position, success, fame, wealth, etc.; to be caught, arrested, demoted or ousted; to suffer a defeat or failure

ngã nước

ngã nước
noun

malaria

ngã tư

ngã tư
noun

four-way intersection; crossroads

ngã đường

ngã đường
noun

intersection (junction of two or more streets or highways)

ngãi

ngãi
noun

(South Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam, literary, obsolete) righteousness, faithfulness

ngò

ngò
noun

cilantro (coriander leaf)

ngò gai

ngò gai
noun

culantro (Eryngium foetidum)

ngò rí

ngò rí
noun

coriander

ngò ôm

ngò ôm
noun

an herb, Limnophila aromatica, used in Vietnamese cuisine, particularly in the sour soup canh chua

ngòi

ngòi
noun

(archaic) canal
primer, fuse, match
stinger

ngòi bút

ngòi bút
noun

nib (of a writing instrument)

ngòi nổ

ngòi nổ
noun

fuse; detonator
(figuratively) direct cause (of a conflict)

ngó

ngó
verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam, colloquial) to see, to look at

noun

lotus root

ngóc

ngóc
noun

narrow, out-of-the-way road

verb

to raise one’s head

ngóc ngách

ngóc ngách
noun

recess, nook, little corner

ngói

ngói
noun

tile
turtle dove

ngón

ngón
noun

a digit (finger or toe)
(literary) one's own little talent

ngón chân

ngón chân
noun

ngón cái

ngón cái
noun

(anatomy) a thumb or a big toe

ngón giữa

ngón giữa
noun

(anatomy) a middle finger or a middle toe

ngón tay

ngón tay
noun

finger (extremity of the hand)

ngón tay cái

ngón tay cái
noun

thumb

ngón tay thối

ngón tay thối
noun

(colloquial) the finger; the middle finger

ngón trỏ

ngón trỏ
noun

(anatomy) an index finger or an index toe

ngón áp út

ngón áp út
noun

(anatomy) a ring finger or a ring toe

ngón út

ngón út
noun

(anatomy) a little finger or a little toe

ngóng

ngóng
verb

to wait for (with impatience); to expect

ngót

ngót
verb

(dated, usually of food) to shrink in size, especially because loss of water

adv

(dated or literary) almost

ngót nghét

ngót nghét
adv

nearly

ngô

ngô
noun

(Northern Vietnam) corn, maize

ngô nghê

ngô nghê
adj

silly, stupid, dim

ngôi

ngôi
noun

kingship or emperorship
(figuratively) a grand title; high rank; status (of great importance)
(grammar) person

classifier

Indicates important structures, such as houses, buildings, markets, graves and stars

ngôi vị

ngôi vị
noun

throne; crown; title (generally speaking)

ngôn

ngôn
noun

(Confucianism) eloquence, one of the tứ đức (“four virtues”) that women are supposed to have

ngôn ngữ

ngôn ngữ
noun

(form of communication) language
(vocabulary of a particular field) language; lingo
(computing) language

ngôn ngữ học

ngôn ngữ học
noun

linguistics

ngôn tình

ngôn tình
adj

related to young adult romantic literature, especially works from modern Chinese writers

ngôn từ

ngôn từ
noun

words; speech; language

ngông

ngông
adj

rash; peculiar; eccentric

ngông cuồng

ngông cuồng
adj

wild; eccentric; crazy

ngõ

ngõ
noun

lane; alley; bystreet

ngõ cụt

ngõ cụt
noun

cul-de-sac; blind alley; dead end

ngõi

ngõi
verb

(Northern Vietnam) to expect; pursue; to long and desire

ngù

ngù
noun

tassel
(dialectal) a piece of wood or ivory bolted onto a clog to keep the big toe and second toe apart

ngùi

ngùi
adj

(rare) sad (to the point of tears); melancholy

ngùn ngụt

ngùn ngụt
adj

curl, wreath

ngút ngàn

ngút ngàn
adj

vast; immense; limitless

ngăm

ngăm
verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to threaten; to intimidate

adj

dark-complexioned; tanned; tawny

ngăn

ngăn
verb

to stop or prevent someone from doing something

noun

a compartment, a case or a shelf
(anatomy, cardiology) a chamber

ngăn chặn

ngăn chặn
verb

to prevent; to block; to stop

ngăn cách

ngăn cách
verb

to separate; to partition off

ngăn cản

ngăn cản
verb

to prevent (from); to hinder (from)

ngăn cấm

ngăn cấm
verb

to forbid

ngăn kéo

ngăn kéo
noun

a drawer (furniture)

ngăn ngừa

ngăn ngừa
verb

to prevent (an adverse event, a disease, etc.)

ngũ

ngũ
noun

(historical) a squad of five soldiers
(historical, figuratively) the military

ngũ cung

ngũ cung
noun

(music) pentatonic

ngũ cốc

ngũ cốc
noun

the Five Grains
cereal

ngũ giác

ngũ giác
noun

(geometry) pentagon

ngũ giới

ngũ giới
noun

(religion, Buddhism) the Five Precepts.

ngũ hành

ngũ hành
noun

(philosophy) Five Phases

ngũ mã phanh thây

ngũ mã phanh thây
noun

(history) dismemberment with five horses

ngũ ngôn

ngũ ngôn
noun

poem with five-syllable lines

adj

(of a poem) having five-syllable lines

ngũ ngôn tuyệt cú

ngũ ngôn tuyệt cú
noun

(poetry) a form of Jueju in which each line consists of five syllables

ngũ ngôn tứ tuyệt

ngũ ngôn tứ tuyệt
noun

(poetry) a form of Jueju in which each line consists of five syllables

ngũ quan

ngũ quan
noun

the five senses of sight (thị giác), hearing (thính giác), smell (khứu giác), taste (vị giác) and touch (xúc giác)

ngũ quả

ngũ quả
noun

the five (or more) fruits on a tray on the ancestral altar during the Vietnamese New Year celebrations

ngũ sắc

ngũ sắc
noun

The five standard colors black, red, blue-green (青), white and yellow in traditional Chinese art and culture which correspond to to the five elements of water, fire, wood, metal and earth.

ngũ tạng

ngũ tạng
noun

(traditional Chinese medicine, anatomy) the five solid principal internal organs in the trunk of the body, including tâm (“heart”), can (“liver”), tì (“spleen”), phế (“lungs”) and thận (“kidneys”)

ngũ uẩn

ngũ uẩn
noun

(Buddhism) the five skandhas

ngũ vị hương

ngũ vị hương
noun

five-spice powder, five-spice, five spice

ngũ âm

ngũ âm
noun

the five notes cung, thương, giốc, chủy, vũ of the classic pentatonic scale

ngũ đoản

ngũ đoản
adj

short in body and limbs

ngơ

ngơ
verb

to ignore; overlook; let pass; connive

ngơ ngác

ngơ ngác
adj

dazed; bewildered

ngơi

ngơi
verb

to rest, to knock off

ngư

ngư
noun

(only in compounds) fish

ngư dân

ngư dân
noun

fisherman, fisher

ngư lôi

ngư lôi
noun

torpedo

ngư nghiệp

ngư nghiệp
noun

(fishing) fishing (business of catching fish)

ngư phủ

ngư phủ
noun

(literary) fisherman

ngưng

ngưng
verb

to condense (to change from the gas state to the liquid state)
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Synonym of ngừng (“to stop; to halt”)

ngưng trệ

ngưng trệ
verb

to come to a stop; to stagnate

ngưu bàng

ngưu bàng
noun

Arctium lappa (greater burdock)

ngươi

ngươi
pron

(archaic or literary) you

noun

pupil (the hole in the middle of the iris of the eye)

ngước

ngước
verb

(of eyes) to look up

người

người
noun

a human being
human character
human physical state; body
(literary) other people

classifier

indicates people, except infants

pron

(literary, polite or endearing) you
(literary, polite) he/him; she/her

người Anh-điêng

người Anh-điêng
noun

an Indian (individual of, or related to, the aboriginal people of the Americas)

người Hoa

người Hoa
noun

Hoa person: ethnic Han Chinese in Vietnam; Chinese-Vietnamese

người Hoa Kì

người Hoa Kì
noun

(rare) person of the United States or U.S. American
(rare) people of the United States

người Kinh

người Kinh
noun

Kinh person or people
(ethnic) Vietnamese person or people

người Mĩ

người Mĩ
noun

(countable) American (person born in or citizen of the United States)
(uncountable) the American people (the people of the United States)

người Nga

người Nga
noun

Russian person
Russian people

người Thái

người Thái
name

Thai people, people from Thailand
Thai people, an ethnic group in Vietnam which originates in Thailand

người Thượng

người Thượng
noun

(chiefly historical) indigenous person from the Central Highlands of Vietnam; highlander; Degar; Montagnard

người Tàu

người Tàu
noun

(colloquial, somewhat derogatory) Chinese

người Việt

người Việt
noun

(history) the Yue people, the name given by the Chinese to various ethnic groups in Southern Ancient China and modern Northern Vietnam; a Yue person
the Vietnamese people, the nationals of Vietnam; a Vietnamese national
the Vietnamese people, also known as the Kinh people, the only major ethnic group in Vietnam, whose mother language is Vietnamese; a Kinh person

người Việt Nam

người Việt Nam
noun

Vietnamese person
Vietnamese people

người bán

người bán
noun

seller; salesperson, vendor

người bán hàng

người bán hàng
noun

seller; salesperson, vendor

người bị hại

người bị hại
noun

victim

người chuyển giới

người chuyển giới
noun

transgender person

người da đỏ

người da đỏ
noun

(colloquial) a redskin

người dưng

người dưng
noun

a non-relative; compare người lạ (“stranger”)

người dưng nước lã

người dưng nước lã
noun

Synonym of người dưng (“stranger”)

người hâm mộ

người hâm mộ
noun

(usually in sports) fan; admirer

người khuyết tật

người khuyết tật
noun

disabled person

người không vì mình, trời tru đất diệt

người không vì mình, trời tru đất diệt
phrase

(Buddhism) should man not live a sin-free life for his own sake, he shall be damned by heaven and earth
(humorous) should man not live a selfish life for his own personal gain, he shall be damned by heaven and earth

người lùn

người lùn
noun

dwarf

người lạ

người lạ
noun

a stranger (person whom one does not know); compare người dưng (“non-relative”)

người lạ mặt

người lạ mặt
noun

stranger

người lớn

người lớn
noun

adult; grown-up

người máy

người máy
noun

robot, android
cyborg

người mẫu

người mẫu
noun

a model (person)

người ngoài hành tinh

người ngoài hành tinh
noun

an extraterrestrial being; an alien

người ngoại quốc

người ngoại quốc
noun

(dated) foreigner; alien

người người

người người
pron

(literary) people
(literary) everyone, everybody

người ngợm

người ngợm
noun

(could be offensive) one; someone; one's body (generally speaking)

người nhà

người nhà
noun

member of the family; relative
servant; help

người nước ngoài

người nước ngoài
noun

a foreigner; an alien

người phàm trần

người phàm trần
noun

a mortal

người quen

người quen
noun

an acquaintance (person)

người ta

người ta
noun

people in general

pron

(colloquial) they/them, other people in general
he/him / she/her / they/them, that/those specific person/people, as opposed to me/us
(familiar, humorous or intimate or endearing or disdainful) I/me

người thân

người thân
noun

a relative (someone in the same family; someone connected by blood, marriage, or adoption)

người thợ

người thợ
noun

workman

người thứ ba

người thứ ba
noun

(literally) the third person
(figuratively) the other man or woman; mistress

người trần mắt thịt

người trần mắt thịt
noun

Synonym of người phàm trần (“mortal”)

người tuyết

người tuyết
noun

snowman (figure made of snow)
(cryptozoology) yeti

người tình

người tình
noun

(usually literary) a lover

người xin có giang

người xin có giang
noun

hitchhiker

người yêu

người yêu
noun

a non-marital romantic partner

người ăn chay

người ăn chay
noun

A vegetarian

người đầu bạc tiễn kẻ đầu xanh

người đầu bạc tiễn kẻ đầu xanh
phrase

"the young perish and the old linger"; an elderly person has/had to suffer the anguish of watching their young loved one die, because they think it should be the other way around

người đẹp

người đẹp
noun

(literally) a good-looking person
a beautiful woman; a beauty

người đồng tính

người đồng tính
noun

homosexual

người đời

người đời
noun

(collective) other people, as opposed to myself/ourselves

ngưỡng

ngưỡng
noun

a threshold (bottom-most part of a doorway)
a threshold (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general)

ngưỡng mộ

ngưỡng mộ
verb

to admire

ngược

ngược
adj

reverse; contrary

ngược lại

ngược lại
adv

on the contrary; conversely; instead
vice versa

ngược xuôi

ngược xuôi
verb

(intransitive) to go back and forth; to go up and down (generally speaking)

ngược đãi

ngược đãi
verb

to mistreat, to abuse

ngượng

ngượng
adj

embarrassed
clumsy; awkward; lumbering

ngượng nghịu

ngượng nghịu
adj

awkward

ngượng ngùng

ngượng ngùng
adj

to be embarrassed, ashamed, to be put out of countenance

ngượng ngập

ngượng ngập
adj

awkward

ngạc

ngạc
romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 噩
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 愕
Sino-Vietnamese reading of 鰐

ngạc nhiên

ngạc nhiên
verb

to be surprised; to be astonished

ngại

ngại
adj

worried, hesitant, fearful

verb

to fear, to be afraid

ngại ngùng

ngại ngùng
verb

to be shy; to be afraid; to be hesitant (generally speaking)

ngạo

ngạo
verb

(literary when not in compounds) to show contempt of others; to be arrogant

ngạo nghễ

ngạo nghễ
adj

arrogant

ngạt

ngạt
verb

to suffocate; to asphyxiate; to be deprived of oxygen

ngả

ngả
noun

way, direction, direction along a road or path

adv

face-up

verb

to lean, to incline
to fell (a tree)
to kill (an animal for food)
to take off (a hat)

ngả về

ngả về
verb

(literary, of a time of the day) to become

ngải

ngải
noun

(botany) Artemisia spp.

ngấm

ngấm
verb

to soak (into); to be absorbed (by)
(figuratively) to slowly take effect; to permeate; to be impregnated (with)

ngấn

ngấn
noun

welt, wheal

ngất

ngất
verb

to faint (to lose consciousness)

adj

very high or tall

ngất ngây

ngất ngây
adj

ecstatic; thrilled; enraptured

ngất xỉu

ngất xỉu
verb

to faint; to pass out

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

ngầm

ngầm
adj

beneath the surface (underground; subterranean, underwater; subaquatic)
(figuratively) secret; covert; unspoken

ngần

ngần
noun

quantity; measure; (this, that) much, many
limit; bound; moderation

adj

(in compounds) silvery white; very white

ngần ngại

ngần ngại
verb

to hesitate (to); to hold back (from); to be reluctant (to)

ngầu

ngầu
adj

(almost always in compounds, of liquid) very unclear
(of eyes) bloodshot
(slang, disapproving) seemingly delinquent, thuggish, prone to fighting or causing trouble
(slang, approving) kickass; badass; "cool"

ngẩn

ngẩn
adj

stupefied; stunned; astounded

ngẩng

ngẩng
verb

to lift up one's face

ngẫm

ngẫm
verb

to think deeply, to muse, to meditate

ngẫm nghĩ

ngẫm nghĩ
verb

to muse

ngẫu

ngẫu
noun

a pair; couple
an even number

adv

randomly; unintentionally; accidentally

ngẫu hứng

ngẫu hứng
noun

improvisation; impromptu
(historical) a poetic title indicating that the composition was unplanned

adv

improvisationally; spontaneously; extemporaneously

adj

improvisational; spontaneous; extemporaneous

ngẫu nhiên

ngẫu nhiên
adj

random
accidental, by accident, by chance, unexpected
(dialectical philosophy) contingent

ngẫu tượng

ngẫu tượng
noun

idol (object of worship)

ngậm

ngậm
verb

to hold inside one's mouth

ngậm máu phun người, trước dơ miệng mình

ngậm máu phun người, trước dơ miệng mình
phrase

Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost.

ngậm ngùi

ngậm ngùi
verb

to be grieved; to feel sorry; to pity

ngập

ngập
adj

be flooded

ngập ngừng

ngập ngừng
verb

to be hesitant; to waver

ngậu sị

ngậu sị
verb

to make a lot of noise

ngậy

ngậy
adj

fat, tasty or fragrant in a fatty way

ngắc

ngắc
verb

to be stuck; to be obstructed; to be hindered; to be interrupted
to hesitate; to pause; to stall

ngắc ngoải

ngắc ngoải
verb

be at death's door, be at the point of death

ngắc ngứ

ngắc ngứ
verb

to stumble over one's words, to pause halfway what one is saying

ngắm

ngắm
verb

to view attentively, especially for pleasure
to aim (at) something, to target
to view

ngắn

ngắn
adj

short or brief in terms of length or duration

ngắn gọn

ngắn gọn
adj

concise; brief

ngắn hạn

ngắn hạn
adj

short-term

ngắn ngủi

ngắn ngủi
adj

too short; brief

ngắt

ngắt
verb

to pick
to sharply interrupt

adv

very; highly; greatly

ngắt lời

ngắt lời
verb

to interrupt (someone speaking)

ngặt

ngặt
adj

strict; stringent; rigorous
(by extension) poor

ngọ

ngọ
noun

(archaic) noon

ngọ nguậy

ngọ nguậy
verb

to wriggle, to squirm

ngọc

ngọc
noun

a gem; a precious stone

ngọc học

ngọc học
noun

gemology

ngọc lam

ngọc lam
noun

turquoise

ngọc lan

ngọc lan
noun

(botany) magnolia

ngọc lan tây

ngọc lan tây
noun

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

ngọc lục bảo

ngọc lục bảo
noun

emerald

ngọc nữ

ngọc nữ
noun

(literary) beautiful girl; fairy

ngọc thạch

ngọc thạch
noun

jade

ngọc trai

ngọc trai
noun

pearl

ngọn

ngọn
noun

top (of a tree); crown
peak (of a mountain); summit; tip; edge; point

classifier

Indicates mountains, hills, flagpoles, tall structures, flames or candles

ngọn nguồn

ngọn nguồn
noun

source (of a river)
source; origin; cause; reason

ngọn ngành

ngọn ngành
noun

(of a story, affair, event, etc.) detail, origin

ngọng

ngọng
adj

having dyslalia

ngọng nghịu

ngọng nghịu
adj

speaking indistinctly; babbling

ngọt

ngọt
adj

sweet
(of broth) well-seasoned and tasty
(of a knife) very sharp

ngọt lịm

ngọt lịm
adj

(colloquial) very sweet

ngọt ngào

ngọt ngào
adj

(of taste, voice, feeling, etc.) sweet; pleasant; loving; tender; suave

ngọt xớt

ngọt xớt
adj

smooth-tongued; smooth-spoken; unctuous

ngỏ

ngỏ
verb

to open
to openly express

adj

open; left open; unlocked

ngố

ngố
adj

doltish; dull-headed

ngốc

ngốc
adj

(formal, mildly derogatory) foolish; doltish
(informal, mildly derogatory or endearing) dummy; dumb-dumb

ngốc nghếch

ngốc nghếch
adj

foolish; stupid

ngốn

ngốn
verb

(colloquial) to be crammed; to engorge

ngồ ngộ

ngồ ngộ
adj

funny; queer

ngồi

ngồi
verb

to sit

ngồi tù

ngồi tù
verb

(colloquial) to go to jail; to be imprisoned

ngồi xổm

ngồi xổm
verb

to squat (to bend at the knees)

ngổn ngang

ngổn ngang
adj

disorderly; in disarray

ngỗ nghịch

ngỗ nghịch
adj

disobedient; naughty (of children); undisciplined; mischievous; refractory

ngỗng

ngỗng
noun

goose

ngộ

ngộ
adj

(Southern Vietnam) queer; quaint
(Southern Vietnam, colloquial) sillily cute
(Northern Vietnam, chiefly of dogs) mad; rabid
(Central Vietnam) hot-tempered

conj

Short for ngộ nhỡ (“in case of; if by chance”).

verb

(dated, rare) to meet; to encounter
(literary) to finally realize

pron

(humorous) I; me

noun

(Buddhism) enlightenment

ngộ nghĩnh

ngộ nghĩnh
adj

uncommon; aberrant; abnormal
cute; funny-looking

ngộ nhận

ngộ nhận
verb

to mistake or misunderstand something, which leads to incorrect characterization or misjudgment

ngộ ái nị

ngộ ái nị
phrase

(slang, humorous) I love you

ngộ độc

ngộ độc
verb

to be poisoned

ngộ độc thực phẩm

ngộ độc thực phẩm
noun

food poisoning

ngộp

ngộp
verb

to suffocate

ngột

ngột
verb

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to feel suffocated

ngột ngạt

ngột ngạt
adj

stuffy; stifling; suffocating

ngớ

ngớ
verb

to be stupefied; to be stunned

ngớ ngẩn

ngớ ngẩn
adj

stupid; silly; foolish; out of one's senses

ngớp

ngớp
verb

to be frightened; to dread

ngớt

ngớt
verb

to weaken; to abate; to subside

ngờ

ngờ
verb

to doubt; to suspect; to be suspicious (of)
to imagine; to fancy; to think in a way that's actually not true

ngờ kép

ngờ kép
noun

(informal) The name of the Latin-script trigraph NGH/ngh

ngờ vực

ngờ vực
verb

to doubt; to suspect; to be suspicious (of)

adj

doubtful; skeptical; suspicious

ngờ đơn

ngờ đơn
noun

(informal) The name of the Latin-script digraph NG/ng

ngời

ngời
adj

(in compounds) shining; beaming; radiant

ngỡ

ngỡ
verb

(literary) to think that; to believe (wrongly that)

ngỡ ngàng

ngỡ ngàng
adj

astonished; disconcerted; perplexed; amazed

ngợi

ngợi
verb

(archaic, now in compounds) to praise

ngợp

ngợp
verb

to feel dizzy (at altitudes, at the sight of something vast); to be overwhelmed

ngụ

ngụ
verb

to reside; to live; to stay; to sojourn
Short for ngụ ý (“to hint; to allude”).

ngụ ngôn

ngụ ngôn
noun

fable

ngụ ý

ngụ ý
verb

to imply; to hint (at); to allude (to)

noun

implication

ngục

ngục
noun

(chiefly in historical contexts, otherwise literary) prison

ngục tốt

ngục tốt
noun

(archaic) warder; jailer

ngụm

ngụm
noun

mouthful (when drinking); gulp

ngụp

ngụp
verb

to dive (into the water)

ngủ

ngủ
verb

(intransitive) to sleep

ngủ chay

ngủ chay
verb

to purely sleep, without anything else happening (i.e. sex) on the bed

ngủ gục

ngủ gục
verb

(suddenly, unexpectedly) to fall asleep

ngủ ngon

ngủ ngon
intj

(uncommon, usually in translations of Western texts) Short for chúc ngủ ngon (“nighty night”).

ngủ nướng

ngủ nướng
noun

to sleep in

ngủ quên

ngủ quên
verb

to fall asleep; to oversleep

ngủm

ngủm
verb

(humorous) to drop dead; to croak

ngứa

ngứa
verb

to feel itchy; to itch
(colloquial, chiefly in compounds) to feel an urge (to do something); to feel uncomfortable; to feel uneasy

ngứa chân

ngứa chân
verb

to have itchy feet; (figuratively) to be itching to depart, go out, etc.

ngứa miệng

ngứa miệng
verb

(colloquial) to be itching to say something

ngứa mắt

ngứa mắt
verb

(colloquial) to feel uneasy at seeing something shocking to the eyes; to be displeased by an eyesore

ngứa mồm

ngứa mồm
verb

(colloquial) Synonym of ngứa miệng

ngứa nghề

ngứa nghề
adj

horny (sexually aroused)
(slang) troublemaking-prone

ngứa ngáy

ngứa ngáy
verb

to itch; to feel itchy (generally speaking)
to feel an itch (to do something)

ngứa tai

ngứa tai
verb

(colloquial) to feel uncomfortable at hearing something shocking to the ears

ngứa tay

ngứa tay
verb

(colloquial) to be itching to do something (e.g. fight someone)

ngừa

ngừa
verb

to warn (against); to forewarn (about)
(Southern Vietnam) to prevent; to avert

ngừng

ngừng
verb

to stop, to desist

ngừng bắn

ngừng bắn
verb

to have a ceasefire

ngửa

ngửa
adv

face-up

verb

to turn upwards

ngửi

ngửi
verb

to sniff; to smell

ngữ

ngữ
noun

(only in compounds) language, word
moderation
(dated) despicable fellow

ngữ dụng học

ngữ dụng học
noun

pragmatics

ngữ hệ

ngữ hệ
noun

(linguistics) language family

ngữ khí

ngữ khí
noun

tone; mood; manner of speaking

ngữ nghĩa

ngữ nghĩa
noun

meaning (of a word, sentence); semantics

ngữ nghĩa học

ngữ nghĩa học
noun

semantics

ngữ nguyên

ngữ nguyên
noun

(dated, linguistics, account) etymology

ngữ nguyên học

ngữ nguyên học
noun

(dated, linguistics, study) etymology

ngữ pháp

ngữ pháp
noun

grammar

adj

grammatical

ngữ tộc

ngữ tộc
noun

a second-level language family, lower than a ngữ hệ

ngữ văn

ngữ văn
noun

(secondary education, as a subject) Vietnamese
(postsecondary education, as an academic field) philology

ngữ âm

ngữ âm
noun

phonology (of a language)
pronunciation (of words in a language)
Short for ngữ âm học (“phonetics”).

ngữ âm học

ngữ âm học
noun

(linguistics) phonetics

ngự

ngự
adj

(only in compounds) royal

ngựa

ngựa
noun

(zoology) horse
(colloquial) Short for sức ngựa (“horsepower”).
(Southern Vietnam) trestle

adj

(figuratively, chiefly Southern Vietnam, slang, derogatory) over-the-top flashy; gaudy; provocative; flirtatious; promiscuous; etc.

ngựa quen đường cũ

ngựa quen đường cũ
phrase

to lapse back into one's old ways; to relapse into vice

ngựa thành Tơ-roa

ngựa thành Tơ-roa
name

(Greek mythology) the Trojan Horse

ngựa trời

ngựa trời
noun

(Southern Vietnam) mantis

ngựa vằn

ngựa vằn
noun

a zebra (African animal)

ngực

ngực
noun

a chest
(euphemistic, of a human female) breasts

nhà

nhà
noun

a house; a home; a dwelling
(colloquial) an immediate family; a household; a home
(endearing when used for one's own, polite when used to refer to others') a spouse
a building in a complex
a condominium

adj

domestic

prefix

professional; expert; performer
dynasty

nhũ mẫu

nhũ mẫu
noun

a nanny (child's nurse)

nô lệ

nô lệ
noun

a slave

núi

núi
noun

a mountain

núi lửa

núi lửa
noun

volcano (mountain containing a magma chamber)

nến

nến
noun

(Northern Vietnam) a candle
wax

nội bất xuất, ngoại bất nhập

nội bất xuất, ngoại bất nhập
phrase

(literally) nothing inside can come out, nothing outside can come in
the place in question is sealed shut or heavily guarded

phụ nữ

phụ nữ
noun

a woman

quân tử

quân tử
noun

(archaic, endearing, women's speech) my darling man; my dear husband
a superior person (usually morally; though in some contexts also socially)

quản lí

quản lí
verb

to manage, to administer

noun

manager

sao

sao
adv

why
how
what; what is it; what now
whatever

adj

problematic, bad

noun

star (luminous celestial body)
asterisk
star (celebrity)
star (actor)

sao chổi

sao chổi
noun

(astronomy) comet

thiếu nữ

thiếu nữ
noun

(often literary) a young girl

thương binh

thương binh
noun

a handicapped war veteran

trường

trường
noun

a school (an institution dedicated to teaching and learning)

affix

a field or range, be it physical or conceptual

adj

(literary or poetic, only in certain expressions) long

trường trung học

trường trung học
noun

secondary school

trường trung học cơ sở

trường trung học cơ sở
noun

junior high school

trường trung học phổ thông

trường trung học phổ thông
noun

high school

tù nhân lương tâm

tù nhân lương tâm
noun

a prisoner of conscience

xà mâu

xà mâu
noun

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

đuốc

đuốc
noun

torch

đàn bà

đàn bà
noun

a woman

đàn ông

đàn ông
noun

a man

đèn

đèn
noun

a light; a lamp, an oil lamp, a light bulb, an incandescent light, a fluorescent light, a flashlight, etc.

đèn cầy

đèn cầy
noun

(Southern Vietnam) candle

đèo

đèo
noun

mountain pass

verb

to carry (on one's back)
to carry (on one's vehicle); to transport

đêm tháng năm chưa nằm đã sáng, ngày tháng mười chưa cười đã tối

đêm tháng năm chưa nằm đã sáng, ngày tháng mười chưa cười đã tối
proverb

(literally) during May nights you can barely rest before the sun rises, and during October days you can barely have fun before it sets
(figuratively) May nights are shorter and October days are longer than usual

đình

đình
noun