nhớ
[ɲəː˧˦]
The Vietnamese verb for 'to miss' (someone or something) is nhớ.
nhớ is used to express the feeling of wanting or needing someone or something that is not present. Depending on the context, nhớ can also mean 'to remember'. For a more poetic or intense sense of longing, the reduplicated form nhớ nhung can be used.
Meaning: to feel the absence of someone or something, to feel the want or need of (verb)
Which one should you use?
While nhớ is the standard verb for both 'to miss' and 'to remember', the form nhớ nhung is used when you want to convey a deeper, more emotional sense of longing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a transitive verb, nhớ is followed directly by the object (the person or thing being missed) without a preposition.
Did you know?
- Because nhớ also means 'to remember', it is used as a cautionary reminder. A phrase like nhớ nhé functions more like 'don't forget' or 'remember to do this' than an expression of longing.
- In romantic contexts, nhớ is often paired with thương, meaning 'to love' or 'to feel pity for'. The phrase nhớ thương describes a deep, affectionate longing that blends love with a sense of sorrow.
- While nhớ is a common word today, it was historically written using the Chinese character 𪡑 in ancient Buddhist texts like the 'Sutra on the Gratitude of Parents'.
Examples in context
- Anh sẽ nhớ em.I will miss you.This sentence demonstrates the use of nhớ to express a future feeling of missing someone.Tatoeba #1550777 by trieuho, translation #1550027 by miflhanc
- Bạn đã nhớ tôiDid you miss me?This sentence shows how to use nhớ in a question to ask if someone missed you.Tatoeba #12547720 by thanhcona40, translation #1561 by CK
- Anh nhớ em nhiềuI miss you a lot.This sentence shows how to use nhớ to express a strong feeling of missing someone.Tatoeba #10669789 by quoctrong018, translation #2793798 by CK
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mai and Minh are talking on the phone before Minh goes on a trip.
- MaiEm sẽ nhớ anh nhiều lắm.I will miss you very much.
- MinhAnh cũng sẽ nhớ em, Mai.I will miss you too, Mai.
- MaiAnh nhớ gọi cho em nhé.Remember to call me.
- MinhAnh hứa sẽ gọi mỗi ngày.I promise to call every day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “miss” translations and entries nhớ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nhớ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
