nghiệp
[ŋiəp̚˧˨ʔ]
In Vietnamese, karma is said as nghiệp. If unsure, use nghiệp. Wiktionary also lists nghiệp chướng and yết-ma.
Meaning: the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of his existence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| nghiệp | [ŋiəp̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋiəp̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| nghiệp chướng | |
| yết-ma |
The term nghiệp is the most common way to discuss the concept of cause and effect in one's life during everyday conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The term nghiệp chướng combines nghiệp (karma) and chướng (obstacle or hindrance) to describe the negative consequences or burdens caused by one's past actions.
Which one should you use?
While nghiệp is the neutral or general term for karma, nghiệp chướng specifically emphasizes the negative, obstructive or suffering-inducing aspects of one's karma. The form yết-ma is also a way to express this concept.
Did you know?
- The phonetic form yết-ma is a phonetic transcription of the Sanskrit word 'karma' used in Vietnamese contexts, making it a direct loan from the original language rather than the Sino-Vietnamese 'nghiệp'.
- The term nghiệp chướng is so common that it can be used metaphorically in Vietnamese to describe any heavy burden or persistent problem that keeps getting in your way, even if it has nothing to do with spiritual retribution.
- The term nghiệp is actually a Sino-Vietnamese loanword derived from the Chinese character 業.
Examples in context
- Tìm hiểu về nghiệp là điều rất quan trọng trong Phật Giáo.Understanding karma is crucial in Buddhism.
- Tôi tin vào luật nghiệp xưa và nay.I believe in the law of karma, both in the past and present.
- Mọi người đều tin vào luật nghiệp.Everyone believes in the law of karma.
- Anh ấy đang phải trả nghiệp của mình.He is paying for his karma.
- Làm việc thiện sẽ tạo ra nghiệp tốt.Doing good deeds will create good karma.
Example conversation
Lan and Tuấn are discussing a news story about a dishonest businessman.
- LanHắn ta cuối cùng cũng gặp nghiệp rồi.He finally faced his karma.
- TuấnĐúng là nghiệp quật mà, Lan.It truly is karma hitting him, Lan.
- LanTuấn nghĩ sao về việc này?What do you think about this, Tuấn?
- TuấnTôi thấy đó là kết quả của nghiệp xấu.I see it as the result of bad karma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “karma” translations and entries nghiệp, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chướng, nghiệp, CC BY-SA 4.0.
