How to Say "Leave Me Alone" in Vietnamese

Để tôi yên

[ʔɗe˧˩ toj˧˧ ʔiən˧˧]word by word

The English phrase 'leave me alone' is expressed in Vietnamese as Để tôi yên.

This phrase is used when someone wants to be left undisturbed or wants a conversation to end immediately.

Meaning: stop talking to me (phrase)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase Để tôi yên is composed of Để (let/allow), tôi (me) and yên (peaceful/quiet).

Which one should you use?

You might use Hãy để tôi yên! for a more forceful 'Leave me alone!' or Đừng làm phiền tôi nữa! to say 'Don't bother me anymore!' For more formal requests, such as 'Please let me be alone' or 'Please leave me in peace', you would use Xin vui lòng để tôi một mình. or Xin hãy để tôi yên. respectively.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

Using tôi in this context is direct and can sound blunt or even rude depending on the tone, making it suitable for informal or confrontational situations. For formal situations, use Xin vui lòng để tôi một mình. or Xin hãy để tôi yên.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Southern Vietnam, you may hear the variation Đừng làm phiền tui nữa! to mean 'Don't bother me anymore!'

Did you know?

The word tôi for 'I' or 'me' is believed to have originated from a word meaning 'slave' or 'servant'.

Examples in context

Để tôi yên!
Leave me alone!
Đừng có nói nữa, để tôi yên.
Stop talking, leave me alone.

Example conversation

Tuấn is upset and wants to be by himself.

Tuấn

Hương, làm ơn để tôi yên.
Hương, please leave me alone.
Hương

Tại sao anh lại giận tôi?
Why are you angry with me?
Tuấn

Để tôi yên một lát.
Leave me alone for a moment.
Hương

Được rồi, tôi sẽ đi.
Okay, I will go.

Sources

IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (để, tôi, yên) and can differ in connected speech.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries tôi, yên, để, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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How to Say “Leave Me Alone” in Vietnamese