không cay
[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ kaj˧˧]word by word
The English phrase "no spicy" is translated into Vietnamese as không cay.
không cay is used as a concise instruction when ordering food in restaurants or street stalls.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of không (not/no) and cay (spicy/hot).
How does it change in a sentence?
While không cay is a common shorthand, using đừng cho cay is a more complete way to instruct a cook to not add spicy ingredients.
Did you know?
- The word không shares a common ancestry with the way 'zero' is expressed in other languages like Korean, via the Chinese character 空.
Examples in context
- Tôi không chịu ăn đồ cay quáI can't handle food that is too spicy.
- Xin cho tôi món không có gia vị cayPlease give me a dish without any spicy seasoning.
- Cho con một bát phở, không cay.Give me a bowl of pho, no spicy.
- Làm ơn cho tôi món này không cay.Please make this dish for me not spicy.
- Tôi ăn không cay được.I cannot eat spicy food.
- Món phở này không cay đâu.This pho is not spicy.
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are ordering food at a restaurant.
- NamChi ơi, bạn muốn ăn gì?Chi, what do you want to eat?
- ChiTôi muốn ăn gà xào sả, nhưng không cay.I want lemongrass chicken, but not spicy.
- NamĐể tôi nói với nhân viên phục vụ.Let me tell the server.
- ChiCảm ơn Nam nhiều nhé.Thank you very much, Nam.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (không, cay) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cay, không, CC BY-SA 4.0.
