Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| thấy | [tʰəj˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tʰəj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| nhìn thấy | [ɲin˨˩ tʰəj˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ɲin˦˩ tʰəj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| xem xét | [sɛm˧˧ sɛt̚˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɛm˧˧ sɛt̚˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
| xem | [sɛm˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [sɛm˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
The meaning of see in Vietnamese is divided between involuntary perception and intentional action. Use thấy when you perceive or notice something with your eyes. Use xem when you are intentionally watching or examining something, such as a movie or a document.
What does it mean word for word?
The compound verb nhìn thấy combines nhìn (to look) and thấy (to perceive or notice).
Which one should you use?
There are distinct differences between the forms used for looking and seeing. Thấy refers to the involuntary perception of an object, whereas nhìn refers to the physical action of directing one's gaze. For intentional viewing, xem is used for watching or examining something, such as a movie. In contrast, nhìn thấy is a compound verb meaning to see.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you saw something in the past, you can add the particle đã before the verb thấy to form đã thấy.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese, xem is used for activities like 'fortune telling' or 'consulting a horoscope', as it implies observing signs to predict the future.
- The word thấy can be used to express an opinion or a feeling, similar to how an English speaker says 'I see it as a problem'.
- The word nhìn shares a linguistic root with terms for 'seeing' in other Mon-Khmer languages, such as Pong.
Examples in context
- Lại đây xem này!Come and see!This sentence uses xem to invite someone to look at something.Tatoeba #3806611 by letuananh, translation #3806575 by eric_vandenburg
- Bạn có thấy không?Did you see that?This sentence uses thấy to ask if someone perceived something.Tatoeba #13615274 by leucammieuvu, translation #1652316 by Spamster
- Cho tôi xem cái đó.Let me see that.This sentence uses xem to ask to examine or look at an object.Tatoeba #12056081 by dotheduyet1999, translation #41848 by CK
- Chào nhé!See you!
- 120 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mai and Hùng are walking in a park.
- MaiHùng có thấy con chim kia không?Hùng, do you see that bird?
- HùngTôi thấy rồi, nó rất đẹp.I see it, it is very beautiful.
- MaiNó đang bay trên cây.It is flying above the tree.
- HùngỪ, tôi thấy nó rồi.Yes, I see it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “see” translations and entries thấy, nhìn thấy, xem xét, xem, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nhìn, nhìn thấy, thấy, xem, xem xét, xét, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
