Kinship terms as pronouns: anh, chị, em, cô, chú, ông, bà
VietnameseA1 — BeginnerPronouns and kinship terms
Patternanh / chị / em / cô / chú / ông / bà = you · I
How it works
Vietnamese mostly uses family words as pronouns, chosen by age and gender. To a man a bit older: anh; a woman a bit older: chị; someone younger: em; a man your parents' age: chú; a woman that age: cô; grandparents' age: ông, bà. The same word is 'I' when you speak about yourself: a younger speaker says em, the older one says anh/chị. Mistake: keeping tôi + bạn with everyone — correct but cold. Pick the term by the listener's age, not by politeness level.
Examples
Chị ơi, chị bán cái này bao nhiêu?Excuse me (to an older woman), how much do you sell this for?
Em chào anh ạ.Hello (younger person greeting an older man).
Ông có khỏe không ạ?Are you well, sir? (to an old man)
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Practice (8)
Choose
You (25) speak to a man of about 30. How do you say 'you'?
- chú
- bạn
- anh
- em
Show answer
Answer: anh
A man somewhat older than you is anh. Chú is for your parents' generation; em is for someone younger.
A man somewhat older than you is anh. Chú is for your parents' generation; em is for someone younger.
Choose
You (20) ask a woman of about 50 for directions. Which word for 'you'?
- bà
- em
- chị
- cô
Show answer
Answer: cô
A woman your parents' age is cô. Bà is for grandmother age; chị is only a bit older than you.
A woman your parents' age is cô. Bà is for grandmother age; chị is only a bit older than you.
Choose
A child talks to you (30). The child calls himself…
- cháu
- tôi
- chú
- anh
Show answer
Answer: cháu
Talking to an adult of their parents' age, children call themselves cháu (and the adult chú/cô).
Talking to an adult of their parents' age, children call themselves cháu (and the adult chú/cô).
Choose
You (22) talk to a younger shop assistant (18). She calls herself…
- em
- chị
- tôi
- bà
Show answer
Answer: em
The younger person uses em for 'I'; you, the older one, use anh or chị for 'I'.
The younger person uses em for 'I'; you, the older one, use anh or chị for 'I'.
Fill in
＿＿ chào anh ạ.
Hint: Hello (a younger woman greeting an older man).
Show answer
Answer: Em
The younger speaker calls herself em; ạ adds politeness.
The younger speaker calls herself em; ạ adds politeness.
Fill in
Bà ơi, ＿＿ có cần giúp không ạ?
Hint: Excuse me ma'am (an old woman), do you need help?
Show answer
Answer: bà
Keep the same kinship word for 'you' all through the sentence: bà.
Keep the same kinship word for 'you' all through the sentence: bà.
Put in order
Put in order: Older sister, where are you going? (to an older woman)
- đi
- Chị
- đâu
- đấy?
Show answer
Answer: Chị đi đâu đấy?
Chị as 'you'; đâu = where comes after the verb; đấy softens the question.
Chị as 'you'; đâu = where comes after the verb; đấy softens the question.
Put in order
Put in order: I (younger) thank you (older man).
- cảm ơn
- Em
- ạ.
- anh
Show answer
Answer: Em cảm ơn anh ạ.
Em = I (younger), anh = you (older man); ạ at the end shows respect.
Em = I (younger), anh = you (older man); ạ at the end shows respect.