vội
[voj˧˨ʔ]
The English verb 'hurry' is expressed in Vietnamese as vội. Wiktionary also lists vội vàng.
Meaning: to do things quickly (verb)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| vội | [voj˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [voj˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| vội vàng | [voj˧˨ʔ vaːŋ˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [voj˨˩ʔ vaːŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
vội is used to describe a state of being rushed or to describe an action performed without sufficient care due to time constraints.
Which one should you use?
While vội can function as an adverb, vội vàng is a more formal or descriptive way to express the manner of doing something in a hurry, acting as 'hurriedly' or 'in a rush'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous state of being in a hurry, use the word đang before vội.
Did you know?
- The word vàng is actually a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character for 'yellow', meaning the phrase contains a hidden linguistic link to the color gold.
- In Vietnamese culture, rushing an elder or a superior can be seen as a sign of disrespect, making the use of vội a delicate social navigation.
- In Vietnamese, doubling a word like vội into vội vàng is a common way to intensify the meaning or add a descriptive emotional tone to an action.
Examples in context
- Bức thư này hẳn cô ấy đã viết vội.About this letter, she obviously wrote it in a hurry.This example shows how to use vội to describe something written in a hurry.Tatoeba #13929229 by leucammieuvu, translation #13929223 by zogwarg
- "Tôi đang cực kỳ vội… vì những lý do tôi không thể nói ra," Dima trả lời người phụ nữ. "Hãy vui lòng để tôi thử bộ đồ đó.""I'm in a terrible hurry… for reasons I can't say," Dima replied to the woman. "Please, just let me try on that suit there."This example demonstrates the phrase used to express being in a terrible hurry.Tatoeba #3468371 by tucm, translation #495916 by FeuDRenais
- Anh ta vội rã rời đi.He went out in a hurry.This example shows how to describe someone leaving in a hurry using vội.Tatoeba #1542063 by Aomori, translation #295213 by CK
- Chúng ta phải nhanh lên, không được để mọi việc chờ đợi.We need to hurry, we cannot keep everything waiting.
- Bạn cần hoàn thành công việc này vội vàng.You need to complete this task in a hurry.
- Nhanh lên nào, chúng ta sẽ muộn mất rồi!Hurry up, or we'll be late!
- Nhanh lên đi, đã muộn rồiHurry up, it's already late.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are leaving for a movie.
- NamChi, đừng vội, chúng ta vẫn còn thời gian.Chi, don't hurry, we still have time.
- ChiNhưng em không muốn bị muộn phim.But I don't want to be late for the movie.
- NamAnh sẽ lái xe nhanh hơn một chút.I will drive a bit faster.
- ChiVậy thì đi thôi, em đang vội lắm.Then let's go, I'm in a big hurry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hurry” translations and entries vội, vội vàng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vàng, vội, vội vàng, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
