Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| điên | [ʔɗiən˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗiəŋ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| điên rồ | [ʔɗiən˧˧ zo˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗiəŋ˧˧ ʐow˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| cuồng | [kuəŋ˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kuəŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| khùng | [xʊwŋ͡m˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kʰʊwŋ͡m˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
The most versatile and common term is điên, which can be applied to both clinical insanity and colloquial instances of being "crazy". Other forms include điên rồ, used for irrationality and cuồng, which expresses being a fanatic or being "crazy about" something like a hobby or a celebrity.
Which one should you use?
While điên is generally used to describe people, điên rồ is more commonly used to describe irrational ideas, actions or situations. In contrast, cuồng is used specifically to express a fanaticism or an intense obsession with a topic or person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Khùng is a colloquial and often more insulting or playful way to call someone crazy compared to điên. Điên rồ can be used informally to describe a crazy situation or idea.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone "is" or "has gone" crazy, the verb bị is often used before điên to form the phrase bị điên, which translates to "to go crazy" or "to be driven crazy".
Did you know?
- The term cuồng can be combined with specific nouns to create new words for obsessions, such as cuồng phong for a violent wind or gale.
- The word rồ in the phrase điên rồ is believed to be onomatopoeic, mimicking a sound associated with madness or erratic behavior.
- Unlike English where 'crazy' can mean 'very exciting' or 'amazing', điên rồ is almost exclusively negative when describing a situation.
Examples in context
- Anh bị điên à?Are you crazy?This sentence uses điên to ask if someone is crazy.Tatoeba #8958176 by dotheduyet1999, translation #20379 by CK
- Cái gì, mày điên à?What, are you crazy?Tatoeba #13587384 by leucammieuvu, translation #13585726 by Native77
- Nó khiến tôi bị điênIt's driving me crazy.This sentence uses điên to show that something is driving a person crazy.Tatoeba #12565548 by thanhcona40, translation #2046 by CK
- Người đó hành xử điên cuồng.That person behaves crazily.
- Anh ta là một người điên rồ.He is a crazy person.
- Cái bữa tiệc tối đó thì thật điên rồ!That dinner party was absolutely crazy!
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tuấn and Lan are talking about a neighbor's strange behavior.
- TuấnÔng chú đó bị điên thật à?Is that man really crazy?
- LanTôi nghĩ là ông ấy bị điên.I think he is crazy.
- TuấnThật là một chuyện điên rồ.That is a crazy thing.
- LanĐúng vậy, thật đáng sợ.Yes, it's scary.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crazy” translations and entries điên, điên rồ, cuồng, khùng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuồng, khùng, rồ, điên, điên rồ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
