hề
[he˨˩]
The Vietnamese word for clown is hề.
hề refers to a performance artist, specifically one who works in a circus.
Meaning: performance artist working in a circus (noun)
Did you know?
- In certain historical contexts, the hề was one of the few performers allowed to mock the nobility or social norms without facing punishment.
- The word hề is a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character 係, showing how early Vietnamese speakers adapted foreign characters to fit their own native sounds.
- While hề is used for circus performers, using the word to describe a person in a metaphorical sense can be quite insulting, implying they are a ridiculous or foolish person.
Examples in context
- Hề sĩ này thực sự làm cho buổi tiệc thêm phần sôi động!This clown really made the party more lively!
- Bé yêu hơn hết là xem các chú hề biểu diễn.My child loves watching clowns perform the most.
- Anh ấy là một chú hề.He is a clown.
- Chú hề đang làm khán giả cười.The clown is making the audience laugh.
- Trang phục của chú hề rất rực rỡ.The clown's costume is very colorful.
Example conversation
Nam and Lan are watching a circus performance.
- NamLan ơi, nhìn chú hề kia kìa!Lan, look at that clown over there!
- LanChú hề đó diễn rất hài hước.That clown performs very humorously.
- NamEm có muốn mua bóng của chú hề không?Do you want to buy a balloon from the clown?
- LanKhông, em chỉ muốn xem thôi.No, I just want to watch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clown” translations and entries hề, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hề, CC BY-SA 4.0.
