Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| xinh xắn | [sïŋ˧˧ san˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɨn˧˧ saŋ˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
| xinh | [sïŋ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɨn˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
These terms are used to describe someone who is pleasant or attractive, especially in the context of women and children. The word xinh can describe a person's appearance or be used to praise their overall appeal. While these terms focus on attractiveness, they differ from đẹp, which is a stronger, more general term for "beautiful" that can be applied to scenery or objects. If you want to describe someone who is exceptionally attractive with an alluring charm, use quyến rũ. For something or someone that is charming, dễ thương is frequently used.
Which one should you use?
xinh is the shorter, more common root used in everyday speech. In contrast, xinh xắn is a reduplicative form that often carries a nuance of being small, delicate or "cute" in a dainty way.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
xinh serves as the common root, while xinh xắn functions as a reduplicative form used to add a sense of endearment or delicateness.
Did you know?
- When describing someone as 'charming' rather than just 'pretty', Vietnamese speakers use dễ thương, which literally translates to 'easy to love'.
- The word xinh is actually a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character 清, which typically translates to 'clear' or 'pure' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- Mary là một cô gái rất xinh xắn.Mary is a very pretty girl.This sentence uses xinh xắn to describe a girl.Tatoeba #5148108 by truongap, translation #31973 by CK
- Bạn xinh đẹp như hoa anh đào vậy.You are pretty, like a cherry blossom.This sentence uses xinh to compare someone's beauty to a cherry blossom.Tatoeba #9040862 by dotheduyet1999, translation #466949 by tamsanh
- Yanni sống ở một vùng quê xinh đẹp.Yanni lives in a pretty rural area.This sentence uses xinh to describe a rural area.Tatoeba #10268468 by Alex_do, translation #8792454 by Amastan
- Cô ấy rất đẹp.She is very pretty.
- Người phụ nữ này thật quyến rũ.This woman is truly ravishing.
- Em bé này thật dễ thương.This baby is very cute.
- Bạn gái của anh thật xinh.Your girlfriend is really pretty.
- Bạn có vẻ đẹp tựa như hoa.You have a beauty like a flower.
- Bộ đồ này thật phong cách và đẹp.This outfit is stylish and beautiful.
- Cô ấy là cô gái xinh nhất trong phòng.She is the prettiest girl in the room.
- Quảng cáo này có hình ảnh đẹp nhất.This advertisement has the most beautiful images.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a photo of a child.
- HươngBé gái trong ảnh trông thật xinh xắn.The little girl in the photo looks so pretty.
- NamĐúng vậy, cô bé thật đáng yêu.True, she is very lovely.
- HươngEm gái của bạn cũng rất xinh xắn.Your younger sister is also very pretty.
- NamCảm ơn Hương nhé.Thanks, Huong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty” translations and entries xinh xắn, xinh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries xinh, xinh xắn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
