đẹp
[ʔɗɛp̚˧˨ʔ]
The English word beautiful is translated into Vietnamese as đẹp. Wiktionary also lists xinh đẹp.
Meaning: attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| đẹp | [ʔɗɛp̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɛp̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| xinh đẹp | [sïŋ˧˧ ʔɗɛp̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɨn˧˧ ʔɗɛp̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
đẹp is a versatile and standard term used to describe people, objects, scenery and abstract concepts. For example, you can use it to describe a house or a view. In contrast, xinh đẹp is almost exclusively reserved for describing the beauty of people.
Which one should you use?
While đẹp is a general term used for anything from a person to a landscape, xinh đẹp is a more formal or literary way to describe a person's beauty, often implying a feminine grace.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something is 'so beautiful' or 'very beautiful' in an exclamatory sense, you can add the particle quá after the word to form đẹp quá. To create the comparative form 'more beautiful', place the word hơn after the adjective to get đẹp hơn.
Did you know?
- Vietnamese has a specific word đẹp mã, which literally means 'beautiful horse' but is used to describe someone who is only superficially attractive.
- In some contexts, đẹp is used as a sarcastic remark to describe a 'beautiful' mess or a disaster that has reached a peak of absurdity.
- The word xinh in xinh đẹp actually traces its roots back to the Chinese character 清, which relates to being 'clear' or 'pure'.
Examples in context
- Cô ấy đẹp quá!How beautiful she is!This sentence shows an exclamation using đẹp to describe a person.Tatoeba #9735949 by dotheduyet1999, translation #311886 by mamat
- Căn nhà đẹp quá.The house is so beautiful.This sentence uses đẹp to describe a house.Tatoeba #11326743 by chaule3, translation #11326739 by chaule3
- Tôi đẹp hơn bạn.I'm more beautiful than you.This sentence uses đẹp to form a comparative statement.Tatoeba #13668125 by leucammieuvu, translation #8322917 by CK
- Bạn xinh đẹpYou are beautiful
- Bức tranh này đẹp lắmThis painting is very beautiful
- Cô bạn mới của tôi rất xinhMy new friend is very beautiful
- Cảnh quan ở đây thật đẹpThe scenery here is really beautiful
- 68 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Hùng are walking through a park.
- HươngHùng ơi, nhìn kìa, bầu trời thật đẹp!Hung, look, the sky is so beautiful!
- HùngỪ, cảnh ở đây đẹp thật đấy.Yeah, the scenery here is really beautiful.
- HươngChúng ta nên chụp một tấm hình.We should take a photo.
- HùngÝ hay đó, Hương.That's a good idea, Huong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beautiful” translations and entries đẹp, xinh đẹp, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries xinh, xinh đẹp, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
