tôi
[toj˧˧]
In Vietnamese, tôi is the way to say "me".
tôi is a pronoun used by a speaker to refer to themselves. Unlike English, where the word for "me" remains the same regardless of who you are talking to, Vietnamese pronouns change based on the social hierarchy between the speaker and the listener.
Which one should you use?
While tôi is neutral, speakers often use other pronouns like em to mean "me" depending on their age and relationship to the listener.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tôi is a neutral or slightly formal way to say "me" or "I" that can be used with strangers or in professional settings.
Did you know?
- The word tôi actually traces its roots back to an ancient word meaning 'slave' or 'servant'.
Examples in context
- Để tôi mơ đi.Let me dream.This sentence shows how to use tôi when expressing a desire to dream.Tatoeba #5763325 by yippe, translation #5758411 by CM
- Bạn bơ tôi à?Are you ignoring me?This sentence demonstrates using tôi when asking if someone is ignoring you.Tatoeba #8948886 by dotheduyet1999, translation #5820232 by OsoHombre
- Mặc kệ tôi đi!Leave me alone!This sentence uses tôi to tell someone to leave you alone.Tatoeba #9015821 by dotheduyet1999, translation #25534 by CK
- Tôi là người mới đến đây. Rất vui được làm quen với các anh/chị.I am new here. It's a pleasure to meet you all.
- 989 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hung and Chi are meeting for the first time at a cafe.
- HùngChào bạn, tôi là Hùng.Hello, I am Hung.
- ChiChào Hùng, tôi tên là Chi.Hello Hung, my name is Chi.
- HùngRất vui được gặp bạn.Nice to meet you.
- ChiTôi cũng vậy.Me too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tôi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tôi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
