làm ơn
The English phrase "please" is translated into Vietnamese as làm ơn.
làm ơn is an interjection used to make a polite request. It is most commonly used at the beginning of a sentence to make a request, similar to how English speakers use "please" in a phrase like "Please help me".
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase làm ơn literally means "to do a favor".
Which one should you use?
While làm ơn is used to request a favor, Vietnamese speakers often express politeness by adding the particle ạ at the end of a sentence instead of using a word for "please" at the beginning.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use làm ơn in every polite sentence. In Vietnamese, politeness is more naturally expressed through the use of appropriate pronouns and sentence-final particles like ạ.
Did you know?
- The character once used to write làm in the old Nôm script was incorrectly merged with a completely different character until the Unicode 14.0 update in 2021.
- Using làm ơn too frequently in a conversation can sound unnatural or overly insistent to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- làm ơn đừng khócPlease don't cry.This example shows how to use làm ơn in a negative request.Tatoeba #12547657 by thanhcona40, translation #1521 by CK
- Làm ơn tính tiền.The bill, please.This example shows how to use làm ơn when asking for a bill.Tatoeba #510362 by autuno, translation #462578 by lukaszpp
- Làm ơn cho xem vé.Please show your ticket.This example shows how to use làm ơn when requesting to see something.Tatoeba #510427 by autuno, translation #272481 by autuno
- Xin vui lòng cho tôi biết giá của sản phẩm này.Please tell me the price of this product.
- Xin vui lòng đợi một chút.Please wait a moment.
- Làm ơn giúp tôi mở cái hộp này.Please help me open this box.
- Làm ơn gọi cho tôi khi bạn có thời gian.Please call me when you have time.
- Làm ơn chỉ cho tôi.Please show me.
- Xin hãy ngồi xuống.Please sit down.
- Xin hãy nói chậm hơn một chút.Please speak more slowly.
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lan is asking Tuấn to help her carry a heavy box.
- LanTuấn ơi, làm ơn giúp em với!Tuấn, please help me!
- TuấnĐược chứ, để anh xách cho.Of course, let me carry it for you.
- LanCảm ơn anh nhiều nhé.Thank you very much.
- TuấnKhông có chi đâu Lan.It's nothing, Lan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries làm, làm ơn, ơn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
