xuống địa ngục đi
The English phrase "go to hell" is translated into Vietnamese as xuống địa ngục đi.
The phrase xuống địa ngục đi is used as a harsh, aggressive curse to express extreme anger or contempt toward someone.
Meaning: interjection (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of xuống (go down/descend), địa ngục (hell) and the particle đi (a command particle used to urge an action).
Did you know?
- While địa ngục is the term for 'hell', the word ngục on its own is the Vietnamese word for 'prison'.
- In Vietnamese culture, cursing someone to 'go down' to hell reflects a Buddhist and Taoist cosmology where the underworld is situated beneath the earth.
- While 'hell' in this phrase is địa ngục, the word địa is a Sino-Vietnamese loanword from the Chinese character for 'earth' or 'ground' (地).
Examples in context
- Xuống địa ngục đi.Go to hell.This sentence is useful for practicing the full phrase xuống địa ngục đi.Tatoeba #13340810 by leucammieuvu, translation #6099231 by mailohilohi
- Anh cứ xuống địa ngục đi.Just go to hell.
- Mày xuống địa ngục đi!Go to hell, you!
Example conversation
Two people are having a heated argument after a betrayal.
- HươngAnh đã lừa dối tôi!You lied to me!
- HùngTôi không quan tâm cô nghĩ gì.I don't care what you think.
- HươngHùng, xuống địa ngục đi!Hùng, go to hell!
- HùngChào cô, tôi đi đây.Goodbye, I'm leaving.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ngục, xuống, đi, địa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
