sen
[sɛn˧˧]
The Vietnamese word for lotus is sen.
sen refers to the plant of the genus Nelumbo. If you wish to specifically refer to the lotus flower, the common way to say it is hoa sen.
Meaning: plant of the genus Nelumbo (noun)
Which one should you use?
sen is the term for the plant itself, whereas hoa sen is used when the focus is specifically on the flower.
When do people say it?
The lotus is considered the national flower of Vietnam.
Did you know?
- In modern Vietnamese slang, the word sen is sometimes used by pet owners to jokingly describe themselves as 'servants' to their cats and dogs.
- The slang use of sen for pet owners may have been influenced by the French phrase jeune servante, meaning 'young maidservant'.
- Vietnamese cuisine uses nearly every part of the sen. The seeds, stems, roots and petals are all used in traditional dishes and teas.
Examples in context
- Hoa sen có ý nghĩa sâu sắc trong văn hóa Việt Nam.The lotus flower holds deep significance in Vietnamese culture.
- Hoa sen rất đẹp.The lotus flower is very beautiful.
- Tôi thích mùi hương của sen.I love the scent of the lotus.
- Hồ này có rất nhiều sen.This lake has a lot of lotus.
Example conversation
Tuấn and Chi are walking through a botanical garden.
- TuấnChi nhìn xem, có nhiều sen quá!Chi, look, there are so many lotuses!
- ChiĐúng vậy, hoa sen ở đây thật tuyệt.That's right, the lotus flowers here are wonderful.
- TuấnAnh muốn mua một đóa sen.I want to buy a lotus blossom.
- ChiEm cũng muốn một đóa sen.I want a lotus blossom too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lotus” translations and entries sen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
