chào bạn
[t͡ɕaːw˨˩ ʔɓaːn˧˨ʔ]word by word
The English phrase "hi friend" is translated into Vietnamese as chào bạn.
chào bạn is a casual greeting used to say hello to a friend or a peer. Among younger Vietnamese generations, you might also hear the casual version Hê-lô bạn.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb chào (to greet) and the noun bạn (friend).
Which one should you use?
While chào bạn is a standard way to say "hi friend", it can feel slightly formal or textbook-like compared to more casual slang used among close friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
chào bạn is considered a neutral and safe way to greet a peer or someone of similar age or status. For a more affectionate and endearing tone, you can add ơi as a suffix to the person being addressed, resulting in Xin chào bạn ơi.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Vietnamese, the greeting chào is typically placed before the person being addressed.
Did you know?
- The word bạn can stem from two different Chinese characters, one meaning 'companion' and another meaning 'rebel'.
- While bạn is the standard word for 'friend', Vietnamese speakers often replace it with specific family titles like 'brother' or 'sister' even if they are not related.
- Because Vietnamese relies on a complex system of social hierarchy, calling someone bạn can sometimes feel unexpectedly distant or impersonal in a close social setting.
Examples in context
- Chào bạn, rất vui được gặp bạn.Hi friend, nice to meet you.
- Chào bạn, bạn khỏe không?Hi friend, how are you?
Example conversation
Hùng and Mai meet at a cafe.
- HùngChào bạn, Mai!Hi friend, Mai!
- MaiChào Hùng, bạn đến sớm vậy.Hi Hùng, you arrived so early.
- HùngTôi muốn chọn chỗ ngồi tốt.I wanted to pick a good seat.
- MaiÝ kiến hay đấy.That is a great idea.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (chào, bạn) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bạn, chào, CC BY-SA 4.0.
