Vietnamese phrasebook
From MaxTravelz
Vietnamese is a language spoken in Vietnam. It is also spoken in places where Vietnamese have immigrated, such as the United States and Australia. Vietnamese grammar is very simple: nouns and adjectives don't have genders, and verbs aren't conjugated. Vietnamese is a tonal language; the meaning of a word depends on how high or low your voice is.
Contents |
Pronunciation guide
Vietnamese spelling is more or less phonetic, and generally similar to Portuguese (which it is based on). Once you figure out how to pronounce each letter and tone, you have a pretty good idea of how to pronounce Vietnamese, which has very few exceptions compared to English.
Vowels
- a
- like 'a' in "father": ba.
- ă
- like 'a' in "father", except said very quickly: chăn.
- â
- like 'u' in "hut", except shorter: sân.
- e
- like 'eah' in "yeah": che.
- ê
- like the Canadian English "eh": cà phê.
- i
- like 'ee' in "see" or "deed": pin.
- o
- like "awwwww...", but not quite as long: lý do.
- ô
- like the first component of the diphthong 'ow' in "low": á-lô.
- ơ
- like â, except longer: bơ.
- u
- like 'oo' in "hoop": Na Uy.
- ư
- like 'oo' in "book", with a hint of the 'i' in "lick": thư.
Consonants
- b
- like 'b' in "bed".
- c
- like 'c' in "cat", with a hint of the 'g' in "gone".
- d
- in the South (Saigon), like 'y' in "yes"; in the North (Hanoi), like 'z' in "zip".
- đ
- like 'd' in "dog".
- g
- like 'g' in "go".
- h
- like 'h' in "help".
- k
- like 'c' in "cat", with a hint of the 'g' in "gone".
- l
- like 'l' in "love". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
- m
- like 'm' in "mother".
- n
- like 'n' in "nice".
- p
- like 'p' in "pig". Used only at the end of a syllable.
- r
- like 'r' in "row", or like 'tt' in "butter" (when said quickly in the American accent).
- s
- like 'ss' in "hiss".
- t
- like 't' in "time".
- v
- like 'v' in "victory".
- x
- like 's' in "kicks".
- y
- like 'y' in "yes".
- ch
- at the beginning of a syllable, like 'ch' in "touch"; at the end, like 'ck' in "sick" (but it is never enunciated).
- gh
- like 'g' in "go".
- kh
- like 'c' in "cat" (enunciated).
- ng, ngh
- like 'ng' in "sing-along": Nga.
- ph
- like 'ph' in "phone".
- th
- like 't' in "time". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
- tr
- like 'ch' in "chat". Used only at the beginning of a syllable.
Other combinations
- gi
- in the South (Saigon), like 'y' in "yes"; in the North (Hanoi), like 'z' in "zip".
- qu
- like 'qu' in "quest"
- uy
- like 'w' in "win".
Tones
In Vietnamese, syllables can have six different tones, with five of them indicated by tone marks applied to the syllable's main vowel. Tone marks can be combined with the other diacritics.
- a
- flat
- á
- high rising; example: đấy, like saying "day?"
- à
- low
- ã
- creaky
- ả
- falling, then rising
- ạ
- a low "a'ah"
Phrase list
The following are very commonly-used phrases. They are listed in a general order of importance:
Basics
(Note: "You" can not be directly translated to Vietnamese, since it depends on the relationship between the speaker and the audience. Many phrases are are translated without this pronoun: For example, "How are you" is literally translated as "Healthy or not?" It is generally impolite to speak to a person without directly addressing them unless they're a subordinate, but Vietnamese usually don't take offense when foreigners omit this.)
- Hello.
- Chào. (jow)
- Hello. (on the phone)
- Á-lô. (AH-loh)
- How are you? (Are you healthy?)
- Khỏe không? (kweah kohng?)
- Fine, thank you. (I am healthy, thank you.)
- Khoẻ, cảm ơn. (kweah, gam uhhn)
- What is your name? (formal, to an older man)
- Ông tên là gì? (ohng theyn la yi)
- What is your name? (formal, to an older woman)
- Bà tên là gì? (ba theyn la yi)
- What is your name? (very informal, to a man)
- Anh tên là gì? (ayng theyn la yi)
- What is your name? (very informal, to a woman)
- Cô tên là gì? (goh theyn la yi)
- My name is ______ .
- Tôi tên là ______ . (Thoye theyn la _____ .)
- Please.
- Làm ơn cho tôi. (lam uhhn jaw thoye)
- Thank you.
- Cảm ơn. (gam uhhn)
- You're welcome.
- Không sao đâu. (kohng sao doh)
- Yes.
- Vâng (affirmative). (vuhng); Dạ (affirmative, respectful) (ya'a) ; Đúng (correct) (duhn)
- No.
- Không. (kohng)
- I'm sorry.
- Xin lỗi. (seen loh'EE)
- Goodbye
- Chào. (jow)
- I can't speak Vietnamese [well].
- Tôi không biết nói tiếng Việt [giỏi lắm]. (thoy kohng bee-IT noh-Y thee-IHNG vee'it [yi-oh-i lahm])
- Do you speak English?
- Biết nói tiếng Anh không? (bee-IT noh-Y thee-IHNG ayng kohng)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- Có ai đây biết nói tiếng Anh không? (GAW ai dey bee-IT noh-Y thee-IHNG ayng kohng)
- Help!
- Cứu (tôi) với! (gih-OO (thoy) vuh-y!)
- Look out!
- Cẩn thận! (guhn tuh'n!)
- I don't understand.
- Tôi không hiểu. (thoy kohng hee-oh)
- Where is the toilet?
- Cầu tiêu ở đâu? (goh thee-oh uh duh-oh) (this phrase may be considered impolite)
Problems
- Leave me alone.
- Đừng làm phiền tôi. (DUHung LAHm fien Thoy)
- Don't touch me!
- Đừng đụng tôi! (DUHung DUHooung Thoy)
- I'll call the police.
- Tôi xẽ gọi cảnh sát./Tôi xẽ gọi công an. (Thoy seEh GAWoy Kanh Sat/ Thoy seEH GAWoy Kong aanh)
- Police!
- Công an!/Cảnh sát! (Kong aanh!/Kanh Sat)
- Stop! Thief!
- Ngừng lại! Ăn trộm! (GNoong LAai! Anh Chom!)
- I need your help.
- Cần (second person pronoun) giúp cho tôi. (Khan yip CHo Thoy)
- It's an emergency.
- Việc này khẩn cấp. (VAHech nuhay Khan gup)
- I'm lost.
- Tôi bị lạc. (Thoi bee lack)
- I lost my bag.
- Tôi bị mất cái giỏ. (Thoi bee mUHtt kai yah)
- I lost my wallet.
- Tôi bị mất cái ví. (Thoi bee mUHtt kai veee)
- I'm sick.
- Tôi bị bệnh. (Thoi bee binh)
- I've been injured.
- Tôi đã bị thương. (Thoi DAH bee Tahuung)
- I need a doctor.
- Tôi cần một bác sĩ. (Thoi Khan moat back see)
- Can I use your phone?
- Tôi dùng điện thoại của (second person pronoun) được không? (Thoi young dean tahoaI KOOa DUHuc KHAong)
Numbers
(Phonetic approximations are in italics, and English words that sound very similar are in quotes.) When giving your age, it is common to say just the digits, e.g., "three-one" instead of "thirty-one".
- 0
- cê-rô (seh roh)/không
- 1
- một (mo'oht)
- 2
- hai ("high")
- 3
- ba (bah)
- 4
- bốn ("bone?")
- 5
- năm ("numb")
- 6
- sáu (sao?)
- 7
- bảy (buh-ee)
- 8
- tám (thahm?)
- 9
- chín ("jean?")
- 10
- mười (muh-uh-ee)
- 11
- mười một (muh-uh-ee mo'oht)
- 12
- mười hai (muh-uh-ee hai)
- 13
- mười ba (muh-uh-ee bah)
- 14
- mười bốn (muh-uh-ee bohn?)
- 15
- mười lăm (muh-uh-ee lahm)
- 16
- mười sáu (muh-uh-ee sao?)
- 17
- mười bảy (muh-uh-ee buh-ee)
- 18
- mười tám (muh-uh-ee thahm?)
- 19
- mười chín (muh-uh-ee jeen?)
- 20
- hai mươi (hai muh-uh-ee)
- 21
- hai mươi mốt (hai muh-uh-ee moht?)
- 22
- hai mươi hai (hai muh-uh-ee hai)
- 23
- hai mươi ba (hai muh-uh-ee bah)
- 30
- ba mươi (bah muh-uh-ee)
- 40
- bốn mươi (bohn? muh-uh-ee)
- 50
- năm mươi (nahm muh-uh-ee)
- 60
- sáu mươi (sao? muh-uh-ee)
- 70
- bảy mươi (buh-ee muh-uh-ee)
- 80
- tám mươi (thahm? muh-uh-ee)
- 90
- chín mươi (jeen? muh-uh-ee)
- 100
- một trăm (moht juhm)
- 200
- hai trăm (hai juhm)
- 300
- ba trăm (bah juhm)
- 1000
- một ngàn/nghìn (mo'oht ngahn/ngeen...)
- 2000
- hai ngàn/nghìn (hai ngahn/ngeen...)
- 1,000,000
- một triệu (mo'oht chee'oh)
- 1,000,000,000
- một tỹ/tỷ (mo'oht thee'ee?)
- 1,000,000,000,000
- một ngàn/nghìn tỹ/tỷ
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- số _____ ("so?")
- half
- nửa (neu-uh?)
- less
- ít hơn (eet huhhhn)
- more
- hơn (huhhhn), thêm (tehm)
Time
- now
- bây giờ (bee yuh...)
- later
- lát nữa (laht? neu'uh?)
- before
- trước (jyeuck?)
- morning
- sáng (sahng?)
- afternoon
- chiều (jee-oh)
- evening, night
- tối (thoh-ee), đêm (dehm)
Clock time
- one o'clock AM
- một giờ sáng (moht. yuh sahng?)
- two o'clock AM
- hai giờ sáng (hai yuh sahng?)
- noon
- trưa (jyeu-uh)
- one o'clock PM
- một giờ chiều (moht. yuh jee-oh)
- two o'clock PM
- hai giờ chiều (hai yuh jee-oh)
- midnight
- nửa đêm (neu-uh dehm)
Duration
- _____ minute(s)
- _____ phút (foodt)
- _____ hour(s)
- _____ tiếng (thee-uhng?)
- _____ day(s)
- _____ ngày (ngai)
- _____ week(s)
- _____ tuần (thoo-uhn)
- _____ month(s)
- _____ tháng (tahng?)
- _____ year(s)
- _____ năm (nahm)
Days
- today
- hôm nay ("home nye")
- yesterday
- hôm qua (hohm gwah)
- tomorrow
- mai ("my")
- this week
- tuần nay (thoo-uhn nai)
- last week
- tuần qua (thoo-uhn gwah)
- next week
- tuần sau (thoo-uhn sao)
The days of the week are simply numbered, with the exception of Sunday:
- Sunday
- chủ nhật (joo nyuht.)
- Monday
- thứ hai (teu? hai)
- Tuesday
- thứ ba (teu? ba)
- Wednesday
- thứ tư (teu? theu)
- Thursday
- thứ năm (teu? nahm!)
- Friday
- thứ sáu (teu? sao?!)
- Saturday
- thứ bảy (teu? buh-ee?)
Months
Vietnamese does not have special names for each month. Instead, the months are simply numbered. Take the word tháng and add the month's number (see #Numbers above). For example:
- March
- tháng 3 / tháng ba (tahng? ba)
Writing time and date
- Friday, December 17, 2004
- Thứ sáu, ngày 17 tháng 12 năm 2004
- 12/17/2004
- 17/12/2004
- 2:36 AM
- Hai giờ 36 giờ sáng
- 2:36 PM
- Hai giờ 36 giờ chiều
- Two in the morning
- Hai giờ sáng
- Two in the afternoon
- Hai giờ chiều
- Ten in the evening
- Mười giờ đêm
- Half past two
- Hai giờ rưỡi
- Noon
- Trưa; 12 giờ trưa
- Evening
- Nửa đêm; 12 giờ đêm
Colors
When describing the color of an object etc., use the word below. When referring to the color itself, use mầu followed by the word below.
- black
- đen ("Dan")
- white
- trắng (chahng?!)
- gray
- xám (sahm?)
- red
- đỏ (daw... aw?)
- blue
- xanh nước (sahyng neu-uhk?)
- yellow
- vàng (vahng...)
- green
- xanh (lá cây) (sahyng lah? kay)
- orange
- cam (kahm)
- purple
- tím ("theme?")
- brown
- nâu ("know")
Transportation
Bus and train
- How much is a ticket to _____?
- Một vé đến _____ là bao nhiêu? (mo'oht veah? dehn? _____ lah... bao nyee-oh)
- One ticket to _____, please.
- Xin cho tôi một vé đến _____. (seen jyaw thoh-ee mo'oht veah? dehn? _____)
- Where does this train/bus go?
- Tàu/xe này đi đâu? (thoe.../seah nay...! dee doh)
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- Tàu/xe đi đến _____ ở đâu? (thoe.../seah dee dehn _____ uh...uh? doh)
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- Tàu/xe này có ngừng tại _____ không? (thoe.../seah nay...! goh? ngeung... thah'ee _____ kohng)
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- Tàu/xe đi _____ chạy lúc nào? (thoe.../seah dee _____ jyah'ee loohk? nahh-oh...)
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- Khi nào tàu/xe này xẽ đến _____? (kee nahh-oh thoe.../seah nay...! seah'uh? dehn? _____)
Directions
- How do I get to _____ ?
- Làm sao tôi đến _____ ? (...)
- ...the train station?
- ...nhà ga? (...)
- ...the bus station?
- ...trạm xe buýt? (...)
- ...the airport?
- ...phi trường (fee cheu-uhng...); ...sân bay? (...)
- ...downtown?
- ...thành phố? (...)
- Xuống phố làm sao? (Soo-uhng? foh? lahm... sao)
- ...the youth hostel?
- ...nhà trọ cho khách du lịch? (...)
- ...the _____ hotel?
- ...khách sạn _____? (...)
- ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
- ...tòa lãnh sự Mỹ/Canada/Australia/Anh? (...)
- Where are there a lot of...
- Nơi nào có nhiều... (...)
- ...hotels?
- ...khách sạn? (...)
- ...restaurants?
- ...nhà hàng? (...)
- ...bars?
- ...quán rượu? (...)
- ...sites to see?
- ...thắng cảnh? (...)
- Can you show me on the map?
- Chỉ trên bản đồ cho tôi được không? (...)
- street
- đường(...)
- Turn left.
- Quẹo trái. (...)
- Turn right.
- Quẹo phải. (...)
- left
- trái(...)
- right
- phải (...)
- straight ahead
- trước mặt (...)
- towards the _____
- tiến đến _____ (...)
- past the _____
- qua _____ (...)
- before the _____
- trước _____ (...)
- Watch for the _____.
- Canh chừng _____. (...)
- intersection
- ngã ba/tư/năm/sáu/bảy (3/4/5/6/7-way intersection) (...)
- north
- bắc (...)
- south
- nam (...)
- east
- đông (...)
- west
- tây (...)
- uphill
- lên dốc (...)
- downhill
- xuống dốc (...)
Taxi
- Taxi!
- Taxi! (tha? see)
- Take me to _____, please.
- Take me to _____, please. (...)
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- How much does it cost to
get to _____? (...)
- Take me there, please.
- Take me there, please. (...)
Lodging
- Do you have any rooms available?
- Do you have any rooms available? (...)
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
- Does the room come with...
- Does the room come with... (...)
- ...bedsheets?
- ...bedsheets? (...)
- ...a bathroom?
- ...phòng vệ sinh? (...); ...phòng cầu tiêu (...)
- ...a telephone?
- ...phôn ("phone"); ...điện thoại? (...)
- ...a TV?
- ...TV? (thee vee)
- May I see the room first?
- May I see the room first? (...)
- Do you have anything quieter?
- Có phòng nào yên hơn không? (...)
- ...bigger?
- ...lớn hơn không? (...)
- ...cleaner?
- ...sạch hơn không? (...)
- ...cheaper?
- ...rẻ hơn không? (...)
- OK, I'll take it.
- OK, I'll take it. (...)
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
- Do you have a safe?
- Do you have a safe? (...)
- ...lockers?
- ...lockers? (...)
- Is breakfast/supper included?
- Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- Buổi sáng/Buổi chiều mấy giờ? (...)
- Please clean my room.
- Please clean my room. (...)
- Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
- I want to check out.
- I want to check out. (...)
Money
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- Nhận được đô la Mỹ/Úc/Canada không? (...)
- Do you accept British pounds?
- Nhận được bảng Anh không? (...)
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Nhận được tiền thẻ không? (...)
- Can you change money for me?
- Can you change money for me? (...)
- Where can I get money changed?
- Where can I get money changed? (...)
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
- What is the exchange rate?
- Tỷ giá hối đoái mấy đồng? (...)
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)
Eating
- A table for one person/two people, please.
- A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
- Can I look in the kitchen?
- Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
- Is there a house specialty?
- Is there a house specialty? (...)
- Is there a local specialty?
- Is there a local specialty? (...)
- I'm a vegetarian.
- Tôi ăn chay. (...)
- I don't eat pork.
- Không ăn thịt heo. (...)
- I don't eat beef.
- Không ăn thịt bò. (...)
- I only eat kosher food.
- I only eat kosher food. (...)
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
- fixed-price meal
- fixed-price meal (...)
- à la carte
- gọi theo món (...)
- breakfast
- buổi sáng (boo... ee? sahng?)
- lunch
- buổi trưa (boo... ee? cheu-uh)
- tea (meal)
- nước trà (...)
- supper
- buổi chiều (boo... ee? chee-oh...)
- I want _____.
- Xin _____. ("seen")
- I want a dish containing _____.
- Xin một đĩa có _____. (...)
- chicken
- (thịt) gà (teet. gah...)
- beef
- (thịt) bò (teet. baw...)
- fish
- cá (gah?)
- ham
- jambon (zhahm bawn)
- sausage
- xúc xích (sook? seek?)
- cheese
- phó mát (faw? maht?)
- eggs
- trứng (cheung?)
- salad
- xà lách (sah... layk?)
- (fresh) vegetables
- rau (tươi) (rao theu-uh-ee)
- (fresh) fruit
- trái cây (tươi) (chai? gai)
- bread
- bánh mì ("buying? me...")
- toast
- bánh mì nướng (bah-eeng? mee... neu-uhng?)
- noodles
- mì ("me...")
- rice (cooked; as a dish)
- cơm (guhm)
- rice (uncooked)
- gạo ("gah-ow.")
- beans (like mung beans)
- đậu (duh-oh.)
- beans (like coffee beans)
- hột (hoht.)
- May I have a glass of _____?
- Xin một ly _____? (...)
- May I have a cup of _____?
- Xin một ly _____? (...)
- May I have a bottle of _____?
- Xin một chai _____? (...)
- coffee
- cà phê (ga... fey)
- tea (drink)
- nước trà (neu-uk? chah...)
- _____ juice
- nước _____ (neu-uk?)
- bubbly water
- nước ngọt (neu-uk? ngawt.)
- water
- nước (neu-uk?)
- beer
- rượu (rih-oh.), bia (pronounce "beer" with a British accent)
- red/white wine
- rượu đỏ/trắng (rih-oh. daw... aw? / chahng?!)
- May I have some _____?
- Xin _____? ("seen")
- salt
- muối (moo-ee?)
- black pepper
- hạt tiêu (haht. thee-oh)
- butter
- bơ (buh)
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- Anh anh! Làm ơn... (...)
- I'm finished.
- Xong rồi. (sah-ohng roh-ee...)
- It was delicious.
- Ngon lắm. (ngawn lahm?!)
- Please clear the plates.
- Please clear the plates. (...)
- The check, please.
- The check, please. (...)
Bars
- Do you serve alcohol?
- Có rượu ở đây không? (...)
- Is there table service?
- Is there table service? (...)
- A beer/two beers, please.
- Xin một/hai ly rượu. (...)
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- Xin một ly rượu đỏ/trắng. (...)
- A pint, please.
- A pint, please. (...)
- A bottle, please.
- Xin một chai. (...)
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- _____ and _____, please. (...)
- whiskey
- whiskey (...)
- vodka
- vodka (...)
- rum
- rum (...)
- water
- nước (neu-uhck?)
- soda pop
- nước ngọt (neu-uhck? ngawt.)
- club soda
- club soda (...)
- tonic water
- tonic water (...)
- orange juice
- nước cam (neu-uhck? gam)
- Coke (soda)
- Côcá-Côla (koh-kah? koh-la)
- Do you have any bar snacks?
- Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
- One more, please.
- Xin một ly/chai nữa. (...)
- Another round, please.
- Another round, please. (...)
- When is closing time?
- Bao giờ đóng cửa? (bow yuh... downg? geu-uh?)
Shopping
- Do you have this in my size?
- Do you have this in my size? (...)
- How much (money) is this?
- Bao nhiêu (tiền)? (bahw nyee-oh thee-uhn...)
- That's too expensive.
- Đắt quá. (daht?! kwahh?)
- Would you take _____?
- Lấy _____ được không? (ley? _____ deu'uhk kohng)
- expensive
- đắt (daht?!)
- cheap
- rẻ (reah...uh?)
- I can't afford it.
- Tôi không có đủ tiền mua. (thoh-ee kohng kaw? doo...oo? thee-uhn... moo-uh)
- I don't want it.
- Tôi không muốn. (thoh-ee kohng moo-uhn?)
- You're cheating me.
- You're cheating me. (...)
- I'm not interested.
- I'm not interested. (..)
- OK, I'll take it.
- OK, I'll take it. (...)
- Can I have a bag?
- Có bao không? (kaw? bahw kohng)
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- Có thể gởi đồ (ngoài nước) không? (...)
- I need...
- Tôi cần... (thoh-ee cuhn...)
- ...toothpaste.
- ...kem đánh răng. (keahm dayng? rahng)
- ...a toothbrush.
- ...bàn chải đánh răng. (bahn... chah-ee? dayng? rahng)
- ...tampons.
- ...tampons. (...)
- ...soap.
- ...xà bông. (sah... bohng)
- ...shampoo.
- ...dầu gội. (...)
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ...thuốc giảm đau. (too-uhc? yah...ahm? dahw!)
- ...cold medicine.
- ...thuốc cảm. (...)
- ...stomach medicine.
- ...thuốc đau bụng. (...)
- ...a razor.
- ...dao cạo râu. (yahw kah'oh ruh-oo)
- ...an umbrella.
- ...dù. ("you...")
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ...sunblock lotion. (...)
- ...a postcard.
- ...bưu thiếp. (...)
- ...postage stamps.
- ...tem. ("tham")
- ...batteries.
- ...pin. ("bean")
- ...writing paper.
- ...giấy. ("yay?!")
- ...a pen.
- ...bút mực. ("boot?!")
- ...a pencil.
- ...bút chì. ("boot?! chee...")
- ...English-language books.
- ...sách Anh ngữ. (...)
- ...English-language magazines.
- ...tạp chí Anh ngữ. (thuh'p chee? ayng-eu'eu?)
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- ...báo Anh ngữ. (bahw? ayng-eu'eu?)
- ...an English-English dictionary.
- ...từ điển Anh-Anh. (theu... dee-n? ayng-ayng)
Driving
- I want to rent a car.
- Tôi muốn mượn xe. (thoh-ee moo-uhn? meu'n seah)
- Can I get insurance?
- Có bảo hiểm cho tôi không? (koh? bah...oo hee...m? chaw thoh-ee khohng)
- stop (on a street sign)
- ngừng (...)
- one way
- một chiều (...)
- yield
- yield (...)
- no parking
- đừng đậu xe (...)
- speed limit
- speed limit (...)
- gas (petrol) station
- cây xăng (keh-ee sahng!)
- petrol
- xăng (sahng!)
- diesel
- diesel (...)
Authority
- I haven't done anything wrong.
- Tôi chưa phạm pháp. (thoh-ee cheu-uh fah'm fahp?)
- It was a misunderstanding.
- Chỉ là hiểu lầm thôi. (chee...ee? lah... hee...oh? luhm... toh-ee)
- Where are you taking me?
- Ông đang dẫn tôi đi đâu? (ohng dahng yuh'n? thoh-ee dee duhw)
- Am I under arrest?
- Có phải tôi bị bắt giữ? (...)
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
- Tôi là công dân Mỹ/Australia/Anh/Canada. (toh-ee lah... kohng yuhn mee'ee? / australia / ayng / kah-nah-dah)
- I want to talk to the (American/Australian/British/Canadian) (embassy/consulate).
- Tôi cần phải nói chuyện với (đại sứ quán/lãnh sự) (Mỹ/Australia/Anh/Canada). (thoh-ee kuhn... fah...ee? naw-ee? cheu-ee'n vuh-ee? (dah'i seu? kwahn?/lay'ng? seu'eu) (mee'ee?/australia/ayng/kah-nah-dah)
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- Tôi muốn nói chuyện với luật sư. (...)
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- Tôi chỉ trả tiền phạt thôi được không? (...)