Learning how to express “not yet” in Vietnamese is an essential step towards mastering the language. This phrase is used in various contexts, be it to indicate something that has not happened or to express that you are not ready for a certain action. In this guide, we will explore both the formal and informal ways of saying “not yet” in Vietnamese. We will also touch upon any regional variations that may exist. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “Not Yet”
1. Chưa (ch-oo-ah):
Chưa is the most common and versatile word used to convey the meaning of “not yet” in Vietnamese. It can be used in various situations to express that something has not occurred or that you are not ready for a particular action. Here are a few examples:
- Tôi chưa biết (Toy ch-oo-ah b-yet): I don’t know yet.
- Anh ta chưa đến (Ah-ng tah ch-oo-ah d-en): He hasn’t arrived yet.
- Tôi chưa sẵn sàng (Toy ch-oo-ah s-an sung): I am not ready yet.
2. Vẫn chưa (vahn ch-oo-ah):
Vẫn chưa is another formal phrase used to mean “not yet” in Vietnamese. It emphasizes the continuity of the action not taking place. Here are a few examples:
- Tài liệu vẫn chưa được chuẩn bị (Tie-lyew vahn ch-oo-ah d-uh-c ch-oo-an bee): The documents have not been prepared yet.
- Xe buýt vẫn chưa đến (Se buht vahn ch-oo-ah d-en): The bus hasn’t arrived yet.
Informal Ways to Say “Not Yet”
1. Chưa đâu (ch-oo-ah dow):
Chưa đâu is a more colloquial and informal way to express “not yet” in Vietnamese. It is commonly used in daily conversations among friends or peers. Here are a few examples:
- Tao chưa biết gì cả đâu (Tow ch-oo-ah bee-yet gee cah dow): I don’t know anything yet.
- Mày chưa về à? (Miy ch-oo-ah v-ee a): Haven’t you come back yet?
2. Chưa đến giờ (ch-oo-ah d-en gee-oh):
Chưa đến giờ is another informal way to convey the meaning of “not yet” in Vietnamese. It indicates that the time has not come for a particular action or event. Here are a few examples:
- Chưa đến giờ trả bài (Ch-oo-ah d-en gee-oh trah bah-ee): It’s not time to hand in the homework yet.
- Còn chưa đến giờ ăn cơm (Cohn ch-oo-ah d-en gee-oh an k-uh-m): It’s not time to eat yet.
Regional Variations
While the phrases mentioned previously are widely understood across Vietnam, it is worth noting that there might be slight regional variations. Here we present a variation mainly used in the northern and central parts of Vietnam:
Chưa mà (ch-oo-ah mah):
Chưa mà is an informal phrase used in the northern and central regions of Vietnam to indicate “not yet.” It is commonly used in casual conversations and can replace chưa in those contexts. Here are a few examples:
- Bố mày chưa mà đi làm à? (B-ow mij ch-oo-ah mah dee lam a): Has your dad not gone to work yet?
- Chưa mà biết ở đâu? (Ch-oo-ah mah bee-yet uh dow): You don’t even know where it is yet?
Now that you know various ways to express “not yet” in Vietnamese, practice using these phrases in different situations to become more fluent. Remember that context is crucial in choosing the most appropriate phrase. Happy learning!
