ở đây
[ʔəː˧˩ ʔɗəj˧˧]word by word
The English word "here" is translated into Vietnamese as ở đây.
ở đây is an adverb used to indicate that something or someone is in, on or at this place.
Meaning: in, on, or at this place (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ở (to be at/in) and đây (this/here).
Which one should you use?
While ở đây refers to the speaker's current location, you should use ở đó to refer to a place that is away from the speaker (there).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some central Vietnamese dialects, people may use Cái nì instead of đây.
How does it change in a sentence?
In very informal or elliptical speech, the verb ở can be omitted, leaving just đây to mean "here".
Did you know?
- Despite sounding similar and having a similar meaning to the Chinese character 於, ở is actually a false cognate and not derived from Chinese.
Examples in context
- Hãy ở đây đi.Stay here.This sentence shows how to use ở đây to express a command to stay.Tatoeba #13338393 by leucammieuvu, translation #2111512 by CK
- Tom nên ở đây.Tom should be here.This sentence shows how to use ở đây to express a suggestion of where someone should be.Tatoeba #11326216 by mqd, translation #1867910 by CK
- Tôi vẫn ở đây.I am still here.This sentence shows how to use ở đây to state a current location.Tatoeba #12060112 by mqd, translation #11446062 by Agestur
- Tôi đến từ nước ngoài, đây là lần đầu tiên tôi đến Việt Nam.I come from a foreign country, and this is my first time here in Vietnam.
- Người dân địa phương sống ở đây rất thân thiện.The local people living here are very friendly.
- Chúng tôi đã tới đây để thăm bảo tàng lịch sử.We have come here to visit the history museum.
- Bạn ơi, đến đây xem cái này!Hey, come here and look at this!
- Anh Bình, đằng kia có một quán ăn ngon lắm. Chúng ta ăn ở đây nhé.Binh, over there is a really yummy restaurant. Let's eat here.
- Mấy bạn đến đây chơi vào cuối tuần nhé!You guys, come over here to hang out on the weekend.
- 201 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minh and Huong are meeting at a coffee shop.
- MinhChào Hương, anh đang ở đây.Hello Huong, I am here.
- HươngEm không thấy anh ở đây.I don't see you here.
- MinhAnh ngồi ở đây, cạnh cửa sổ.I am sitting here, next to the window.
- HươngÀ, em thấy anh rồi!Ah, I see you now!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ở, đây) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ở, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
