nhanh lên
[ɲajŋ̟˧˧ len˧˧]
To say 'hurry up' in Vietnamese, you use nhanh lên. Wiktionary also lists mau lên and vội lên.
Meaning: go faster (verb)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| nhanh lên | [ɲajŋ̟˧˧ len˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ɲɛɲ˧˧ len˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| mau lên | [maw˧˧ len˧˧] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| vội lên | [voj˧˨ʔ len˧˧] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
In Vietnamese, these phrases are often used as standalone exclamations to urge someone to move faster.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nhanh lên is composed of nhanh (fast) and lên (up/increase/rise), literally meaning 'fast up'.
Which one should you use?
nhanh lên focuses on increasing the speed of an action, whereas mau lên focuses on the urgency or promptness of starting or completing an action. Đi mau! means 'Go fast!' and is an informal way to say 'Hurry up!'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mau lên often carries a stronger sense of impatience or urgency than nhanh lên. Nhanh lên! means 'Hurry up!' in an informal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle đi to the end of nhanh lên makes the command sound more like an exhortation or a nudge, similar to 'come on, hurry up'.
Did you know?
- The word vội has been recorded in ancient Buddhist texts, such as the Phật thuyết đại báo phụ mẫu ân trọng kinh, appearing as a bôi.
Examples in context
- Bạn phải nhanh lên.You must hurry up.This sentence demonstrates the use of nhanh lên to express necessity.Tatoeba #9778084 by dotheduyet1999, translation #69497 by CK
- Thôi nào, nhanh lên đi.Come on, hurry up.This sentence shows how nhanh lên can be used as an encouraging nudge.Tatoeba #3549758 by trieuho, translation #3549698 by CK
- Nhanh lênHurry up.This sentence shows nhanh lên used as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #12529252 by thanhcona40, translation #1329 by brauliobezerra
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mai and Tuấn are leaving the house for a movie.
- MaiTuấn ơi, nhanh lên nào!Tuấn, hurry up!
- TuấnAnh đang đi đây, đợi anh một chút.I'm coming, wait for me a moment.
- MaiNếu không nhanh lên, chúng ta sẽ lỡ phim.If you don't hurry up, we will miss the movie.
- TuấnĐược rồi, anh đi ngay đây.Alright, I'm going now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hurry up” translations and entries nhanh lên, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mau, lên, vội) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lên, mau, nhanh, nhanh lên, vội, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
