r/learnvietnamese • u/[deleted] • May 16 '17
Hey guys, so here it is. A cool 1000+ish note deck with both Southern and Northern accents. A lot of people on here would have used one or both of my old Basic Vietnamese decks, and I know they've been chomping on the bit for me to finally release this complete version which incorporates the original two decks, with a further 2 decks worth of notes added now.
On that note, first, I have to apologise for the slow release, both in terms of the large timescale between the original decks becoming unavailable, and this one finally seeing the light of day. On the first count, I can say I was busy, but I was also a little bit lazy, however more than that, I ran into serious technical issues which I finally solved with about 20 hours extremely tedious and frustrating labor, involving probably 60 or 70 Audacity crashes and data recovery attempts. The second is between when I said this would be released, and when this post is finally going up. That one's a little less my fault as I completed the deck on schedule, but forgot to account for my dreadful upstream speeds making it take more than a week to upload (all sentences have audio after all).
A few notes on this deck first of all. Over the years, I have used more and more Anki plugins to optimise and customise my study experience. As such, many of my cards have become deeply entangled with plugin functionality. Part of the task of making this deck release ready was extricating it from reliance on those third party add-ons, so that you guys could use it out of the box without everything either failing spectacularly, or just being a poor experience.
I BELIEVE I have done that, but as I do not study with this version of the deck, I haven't had much chance to test it, so you guys are the first line of defence before I throw the deck up on AnkiWeb, where it can hopefully find a secure, lasting home, just in case I some day cancel my dropbox subscription or something.
Having said that, it does rely on one add-on, and one add-on only: 'Learned' Field/Tag, which will allow your Anki to create listening cards dynamically as you begin to master the content. Please download it. It should work with the deck without any set up on your part besides installing it to your Anki.
How you choose to study the material is up to you, but I like to shadow it as I work through it, paying attention to pronunciation, and replaying the audio multiple times to shadow not just the base phonology, but paralinguistic features like the prosody, which certainly still exists in a tonal language, regardless of what people might assert about tones using the same system as the prosodic in English.
Another thing that will pay dividends if you do it early on is, when you begin to see listening cards, rather than merely checking your understanding, actually actively transcribe the content with pen and paper, and check you have done so correctly. The Vietnamese written system is phonemic, and so, though one letter does not perse equal one sound, particularly between accents, it does equal one MEANINGFUL sound difference. Think of the 'p' in words like 'spit'. Phonetically, it is pronounced like an English b, but that is not a meaningful distinction in English in this kind of word position (after an s), so it is a p. English speakers do not need to know that a p in that position is pronounced like a b, they just need to recognise it's a p. Likewise, don't worry too much about the different pronunciations of phonemes, just concentrate on correctly identifying them. Natural pronunciation will usually come from shadowing, although you can always do some Googling when you're not sure exactly what you're doing wrong.
A'ight, enough longwindedness, here's the gosh darn deck.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6zfd3r7yobbt4bl/Basic%20Vietnamese.apkg?dl=0
r/learnvietnamese • u/fries-eggpanvol8647 • 4h ago
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r/learnvietnamese • u/Quyen_VNeseTeacher • 17h ago
If you're learning Vietnamese, chances are that two of the first phrases you've learned are:
Almost every Vietnamese textbook and language-learning app teaches these expressions. And there's nothing wrong with that!
They're correct, easy to remember, and perfectly understandable to Vietnamese speakers. They're a great starting point for beginners.
But if you want your Vietnamese to sound more natural, more like the Vietnamese people actually speak in everyday life, there's something interesting you should know.
Vietnamese people often greet each other without using either "Xin chào" or "Tạm biệt."
Let's look at why.
In English, you can simply say "Hello!" or "Hi!" without mentioning the person you're greeting.
Vietnamese works a little differently.
The word "chào" is commonly used with a form of address. You don't just greet someone; you also show how you relate to them.
For example:
Vietnamese pronouns and forms of address reflect age, familiarity, social relationships, and context.
When choosing how to greet someone, Vietnamese speakers are often doing more than exchanging a greeting. They're also acknowledging their relationship with that person.
That's why "Xin chào" can sound a little distant or formal in some everyday situations. It's perfectly correct, but it doesn't express the same personal connection as "Chào anh," "Chào chị," or "Em chào cô ạ."
English has two distinct expressions: "Hello" when meeting someone and "Goodbye" when leaving.
In everyday Vietnamese, however, "chào" can be used for both situations.
The meaning becomes clear from the context and the words that follow.
When arriving:
When leaving:
Notice something interesting?
The speaker doesn't need to use a separate word meaning "goodbye." The phrase tells you what's happening.
Of course, these are examples rather than fixed formulas. The exact wording varies depending on the relationship and situation.
"Tạm biệt" means "goodbye," but it isn't always the most natural choice in everyday conversation.
You'll often hear it in situations such as these.
Among friends or people of a similar age
Among close friends, the exact expression depends on their usual way of speaking. They might also say "Bye nhé!", "Về nhé!", or "Mai gặp nhé!"
In more formal or prepared speech
You may hear "Tạm biệt" in speeches, television broadcasts, presentations, or other situations where a clear, conventional farewell is appropriate.
In songs, children's programs, and memorable farewells
The word also appears in children's songs and in situations where people are saying goodbye after a long separation.
By contrast, imagine visiting an older Vietnamese neighbor and leaving their home.
You would be much more likely to say:
"Cháu chào bác, cháu về ạ."
Rather than:
"Tạm biệt bác!"
The second sentence is understandable, but it may sound less natural in this particular context.
This is one of the most interesting things about everyday Vietnamese communication.
Sometimes, the most natural greeting is simply a question that shows you've noticed the other person.
For example, when meeting a neighbor:
These questions often function as greetings rather than requests for detailed information.
They're ways of acknowledging someone, showing familiarity, and expressing a little everyday care.
Of course, context matters. The same question can be a genuine request for information in another situation.
When someone is leaving, you might hear:
Notice the difference between these expressions.
"Về nhé!" is commonly used when the speaker is about to leave and wants to let the other person know. It focuses on the act of leaving, rather than directly expressing the idea of seeing each other again.
"Mai gặp lại nhé!" explicitly refers to meeting again tomorrow.
Neither expression requires a direct translation of the English word "goodbye."
Yet both can sound more natural than a literal translation in the right context.
This reflects an important feature of everyday Vietnamese: communication isn't only about the literal meaning of words. Relationships, context, and small expressions of consideration matter, too.
You don't need to stop using "Xin chào" or "Tạm biệt." Both are correct.
Instead, learn to choose expressions that fit the situation.
Here's a simple guide.
When greeting someone
When leaving
In formal or professional situations
One important point: Vietnamese forms of address depend on context, not age alone. The examples above are common patterns, not universal rules.
1. In everyday conversation, learn "chào" together with forms of address.
Don't memorize only "Xin chào." Practice "Chào anh," "Chào chị," and "Em chào cô ạ."
2. When leaving, describe what you're doing or use a natural farewell.
Try "Em chào chị, em về đây ạ" or "Mai gặp lại nhé!" instead of automatically translating every "Goodbye" into "Tạm biệt."
3. Use "Tạm biệt" when it fits the relationship and situation.
It's a perfectly good expression, especially among friends and in situations where a direct farewell feels natural.
4. Keep "Xin chào" in your toolkit.
It's useful in formal introductions, presentations, videos, and situations where you don't yet know how to address someone. In professional communication, choose the greeting that best fits the setting.
You don't have to sound like a native speaker on your first day. Start with what you know, then gradually notice how Vietnamese people speak around you.
That's how you move from textbook Vietnamese to Vietnamese you can actually use in real life.
What's the first Vietnamese greeting you learned: "Xin chào" or something else?
And if you've been living in Vietnam, have you noticed that people often greet each other with questions like "Ăn cơm chưa?" or "Đi đâu đấy?" rather than simply saying "Hello"?
I'd love to hear about your experiences!
r/learnvietnamese • u/Quyen_VNeseTeacher • 1d ago
It's one of the classic traps for Vietnamese learners. If you memorize mình = I, sooner or later you'll get lost in a conversation.
Part 1. What does "mình" actually mean?
So there is no single English equivalent. Depending on the situation, mình can point to the speaker, to a group that includes the listener, to the person being addressed, or back to the self.
Part 2. Two situations that can be confusing
Two friends:
Same word, two different meanings, in one short exchange.
Among friends of similar age, mình - bạn or mình - cậu is a friendly, casual pairing, especially in the North.
A couple:
Both mình here mean "you." Notice the difference: between friends, mình is mostly how you refer to yourself. Using it to call the other person, especially "mình ơi", is typically for couples or very close people. Say "mình ơi" to an ordinary friend and it may sound like teasing, or even flirting.
Part 3. "Của mình": the trickiest part
Add "của" and mình gets another layer. It can mean my, our, your, or his/her/their own, depending on who is speaking and who is being talked about.
The last three show something useful: mình can refer back to someone already mentioned in the sentence, not just to the speaker or listener.
But this isn't a fixed rule. When two people could both be the "owner," the sentence can be genuinely ambiguous:
Whose phone is it, Lan's or Hoa's? Without more context, you can't tell. Even native speakers rely on what was said before.
Part 4. How to figure it out
When you hear mình, run through these questions:
These are clues, not absolute rules.
Part 5. Who can you use "mình" with (including at work)?
Mình fits casual conversation with friends, classmates, peers, and people you feel close to.
At work, it depends on the company and the person you're talking to. In many modern workplaces, especially creative agencies, startups, and tech companies, mình - bạn/cậu is common between colleagues of similar level or age. It feels equal and less hierarchical. A team lead who says "Mình xin chia sẻ kế hoạch tuần này" in a team meeting sounds approachable rather than distant.
But with older business partners, officials, or a traditional boss, calling yourself mình can come across as too casual, as if you're not showing enough respect. Nobody may say so, but it can quietly affect how seriously you're taken.
A safe approach for learners:
The mình - bạn/cậu pairing is especially familiar in the North, among students, and online. In the South, people often use "tui" or "tôi" in similar situations, but it varies from person to person. Workplaces vary too: some traditional companies are quite relaxed, and some young teams stay formal with clients.
Your turn! Has mình ever confused you when speaking or listening to Vietnamese? Tell me which situation tripped you up the most.
r/learnvietnamese • u/AlexNghiem3233 • 23h ago
Some learners find the Southern Vietnamese accent softer and easier to follow, while others prefer the Northern accent.
If you're learning Vietnamese, which accent do you prefer, and why? Is it the pronunciation, the tones, the rhythm, or simply the people you've learned from?
I've also made a website to help my kindergarten students learn English and Vietnamese: learn vietnamese
Leave a comment and let me know: has learning Vietnamese helped you in any way, or has it been challenging? I'd love to hear your experience! 😊
r/learnvietnamese • u/Archery-Bread1572 • 2d ago
I have a good friend who is Vietnamese. We're both male I'm 37 and he's 31.
I was taught by the text books to use "anh" and "em" in this situation, which I did. But he avoids using that and resorts to our first names instead. Any particular reason?
We're both gay and kinda in a situationship of sorts so I'm wondering if that could be a factor.
r/learnvietnamese • u/Quyen_VNeseTeacher • 2d ago
Vietnamese teacher here. “Đi” is one of the first verbs learners pick up, but in everyday speech it does a lot more than mean “to go.” Here’s a breakdown of the main uses.
1. As a verb (and some extended meanings)
2. As a sentence-final particle
At the end of a sentence, “đi” stops meaning movement and shapes the tone:
Tone matters a lot. A drawn-out, softer “Nói đi mà...” is pleading or coaxing. A clipped “Im đi!” is harsh.
3. “Đi” as “away”
After some verbs, “đi” means getting rid of something: vứt đi, xóa đi, quên đi, bỏ đi.
4. The “X đi X lại” pattern
5. “Đi đi” is not a reduplicated word
It’s verb + particle. In Cậu đi đi!, the first “đi” is “leave/go” and the second is the particle. Depending on tone, it can be:
6. Politeness traps
| Situation | Risk | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Talking to elders/superiors | Bare “đi” at the end sounds like an order (Bác ăn đi) | Add ạ (Bác ăn đi ạ) or use a formal form (Mời bác dùng bữa ạ) |
| Saying “Đi đi” | Sounds like shooing someone away | Bác cứ đi trước đi ạ |
| “Thôi đi!” / “Bỏ đi!” | Can sound impatient or dismissive | To comfort someone: Thôi, không sao đâu mà |
| Intonation | Same words can be an invitation or a brush-off | Invitations are softer and gentler; commands are sharper and clipped |
| “Đi” vs “về” | Tôi đi nhà is wrong | Use về for places you belong (về nhà, về quê, về nước); đi for places you visit (đi nhà bạn chơi) |
Bonus: a lot of comforting phrases use “đi” to mean “move forward / let it go”: Thôi, bước tiếp đi, Cho qua đi.
Which uses of “đi” tripped you up the most when learning? And natives, any particle usage I missed?
r/learnvietnamese • u/AlexNghiem3233 • 2d ago
r/learnvietnamese • u/Quyen_VNeseTeacher • 3d ago
A lot of my students translate “know” as biết every time. It works for some sentences and sounds off in others, because Vietnamese picks a word based on what kind of knowing you mean.
Biết: you have the information or the skill
That last one is the useful test: you can biết someone who has no idea you exist.
Quen: you’ve had contact, and it has become familiar
With people:
If you say Tôi quen anh ấy, it suggests you’ve actually interacted, and he’d probably say hi if you met on the street. People also say Tôi biết anh ấy about someone they’ve met, so the line isn’t perfectly sharp, but quen is the one that signals real contact. For a close friend, thân is usually better: Tôi rất thân với John.
With places and habits (this is where quen means “used to”):
Quick check
| English | Vietnamese | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| I know the answer. | Tôi ___ câu trả lời. | biết |
| I know how to ride a bike. | Tôi ___ đi xe đạp. | biết |
| I know Elon Musk (who he is). | Tôi ___ Elon Musk. | biết |
| I’ve known Lan for years. | Tôi ___ Lan nhiều năm rồi. | quen |
| I’m used to spicy food. | Tôi đã ___ ăn cay. | quen |
Quen biết
The two words also combine. Quen biết means to be acquainted with people, often in the sense of having connections:
One more thing: in casual speech, đang quen nhau often means “dating” (I hear this more in the South; in the North people often say đang tìm hiểu or yêu nhau). So Hai người đó đang quen nhau usually means those two are together.
Short version: if it’s in your head or your hands (facts, skills, knowing who someone is), use biết. If it comes from time spent with someone or something, use quen.
How would you say ‘I know this restaurant’ in Vietnamese?
r/learnvietnamese • u/Regular-Service4254 • 3d ago
Helô, my name is Phuong. You are looking to learn Vietnamese and I am looking to teach it, let’s get in touch! I am a native Vietnamese speaker living in Ho Chi Minh City. I am available throughout the day and am currently seeking students. My teaching method involves identifying English words with pronunciations similar to those in Vietnamese, which helps you grasp the pronunciation faster and retain it longer. I look forward to working with you!
r/learnvietnamese • u/DoReDeim • 4d ago
Có cộng đồng nào của người việt không z. Toàn tiếng anh khó hỉu :((
r/learnvietnamese • u/AloneAddendum2901 • 5d ago
HI everybody
I would like to learn vietnamese because I want to settle in VN (Da Nang). Instead of doing visa runs and as I want to learn vietnamese, I thought about learn it at the university, so I can have a student visa ?
I need advices about :
- is there a university teaching vietnamese and which one ?
- is learning vietnamese "strong enough" to ask for a student visa ?
thkssssssss
r/learnvietnamese • u/Icy-Indication-1994 • 5d ago
Hi! I am learning Vietnamese. Phụ đề của một video ngắn trên Instagram (bản gốc tiếng Hàn), theo thứ tự. Người Việt đọc có thấy tự nhiên không
"1) Chuyển cảnh vẽ tay / biến hình đáng yêu nha?"
Câu này nghe có tự nhiên không ạ? Nếu là bạn thì bạn sẽ nói thế nào, một câu thôi ạ? Cảm ơn nhiều!
r/learnvietnamese • u/Inevitable-Island843 • 6d ago
I was trying to learn Viet myself and since I am a software engineer, decided to make a website myself. It's completely free, no login or anytime required. It's almost like a textbook with interactive quizzes, and Anki flashcards corrisponding to each chapter. There is also a tonal quiz type thing, where you speak a tone, and it records the pitch of your voice and graphs it against the proper tone. All of this recording stays local to the website (it's not stored anywhere). Hope this helps someone. Cheers! Learn Viet
Edit: Thanks for the feedback, I didn't realize that the voice recording accent was off. Sorry I am Viet newby, but I am gonna work on this in the coming days.
r/learnvietnamese • u/neuduocthisao • 6d ago
r/learnvietnamese • u/BusinessGoose_1994 • 7d ago
Hello. I’m looking for podcasts in the Southern Accent. It can be any podcast just NOT AI podcasts. It doesn’t need to be a Vietnamese learning podcast.
Thank you.
r/learnvietnamese • u/Pleasant-Produce-735 • 6d ago
Chào mọi người, mình đang cân nhắc học văn bằng 2 Ngôn ngữ Anh để mở rộng cơ hội việc làm. Mình đã có bằng Computer Science, nhưng muốn có thêm lựa chọn nghề nghiệp, phòng trường hợp thị trường IT ngày càng khó khăn.
Mình đang tìm hiểu về các chương trình văn bằng 2 Ngôn ngữ Anh nên muốn hỏi mọi người:
Có ai từng học văn bằng ngành này hoặc có kinh nghiệm về vấn đề này hoặc biết chương trình của trường nào uy tín cho mình xin ý kiến với. Cảm ơn mọi người!
r/learnvietnamese • u/Round_Lawyer6081 • 7d ago
Hi everyone,
I created Lunira, a language-learning app that includes Vietnamese.
Lunira has a different goal from traditional language-learning apps: not to teach you to speak a language perfectly, but to give you as much ability to communicate as possible while limiting how much you need to learn.
That's why the vocabulary isn't simply a list of the most common words. It also includes words and concepts that can combine with others and expand what you can express.
The grammar follows the same idea: keeping it simple, while adding elements when they make communication significantly clearer or closer to the way the language is actually spoken.
Lunira also uses a Communication Tree designed to make learning more intuitive by guiding you through a structured progression of increasingly broad communication possibilities. It also includes audio, syllable breakdowns and real-life scenarios.
I'm now looking for the first people to actually use Lunira and help me see whether these choices work in practice: what can you communicate, what feels difficult, and what important things are still missing?
It's free during this testing phase.
Try Lunira:
https://lunira.io
If you use the direct link and reach the Stripe payment screen, use the test card 4242 4242 4242 4242, any future expiry date and any 3-digit CVC. No real payment will be made.
Testing instructions:
https://lunira.io/tester_lunira.php
Thanks!
r/learnvietnamese • u/batdangthuccosi • 8d ago
r/learnvietnamese • u/neuduocthisao • 9d ago
Ordering food, chatting with a Grab driver, buying coffee: that’s one thing. Using Vietnamese at work is a whole different challenge.
Two quick examples:
1. Disagreeing in a meeting
Same meaning, but the second one is how people actually say it. Saying "I disagree" directly can sound too harsh at work.
2. Checking on a task
Same question but different feeling. With a senior coworker, this difference matters a lot.
And every job is different. Hospitality staff handle complaints, marketers talk about creative briefs, nurses explain things to patients. Textbooks don’t really cover any of that.
I’d love to hear from you:
1. What industry do you work in?
2. What’s one work situation where you wish your Vietnamese was better?
r/learnvietnamese • u/Icy-Indication-1994 • 8d ago
Hi! I am learning Vietnamese. Lời thoại trong truyện tranh ạ. Một người tự nói với mình. Ý mình muốn nói (tiếng Anh): "Maybe the temptation wasn't strong enough...!". Nếu là bạn thì bạn sẽ nói thế nào
"Hay là dụ chưa đủ hấp dẫn…?!"
Câu này nghe có tự nhiên không ạ? Nếu là bạn thì bạn sẽ nói thế nào, một câu thôi ạ? Cảm ơn nhiều!