Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| ngồi xuống | [ŋoj˨˩ suəŋ˧˦] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| ngồi | [ŋoj˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋoj˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
The phrase is used to describe the action of assuming a sitting position from a standing position.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ngồi means to sit, and the particle xuống is a directional marker meaning down. Together, they specify the movement of descending into a seat.
Which one should you use?
ngồi xuống emphasizes the physical movement of descending into a seat. In contrast, ngồi is more commonly used to describe the state of being seated or is used to simply invite someone to sit.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word xuống functions as a directional particle added to ngồi to specify that the action is moving downward.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use ngồi xuống as a direct command, but in Vietnamese, using this without a subject or a polite particle can sound very aggressive or like you are commanding a subordinate. Use Mời ngồi instead for polite social interactions.
When do people say it?
When inviting someone to sit in a polite social setting, using the phrase Mời ngồi is the standard way to show respect and avoid appearing blunt.
Did you know?
- The word ngồi is a doublet of the word ngôi, which refers to a position, rank, or star in the sky.
- In traditional Vietnamese social hierarchy, the act of ngồi is often governed by who is allowed to sit first, with younger people waiting for elders to be seated.
- In some contexts, ngồi can be used metaphorically to describe staying in one place or being stuck in a situation, rather than just the physical act of sitting.
Examples in context
- Tôi sẽ ngồi xuống.I'm going to sit down.This sentence shows how to express a personal intention using ngồi xuống.Tatoeba #9735945 by dotheduyet1999, translation #9735943 by CK
- Ngồi đây với tôi một lát.Sit down with me for a while.This sentence uses ngồi to invite someone to sit for a short time.Tatoeba #13173279 by leucammieuvu, translation #12211303 by CK
- Tôi nghĩ bạn nên ngồi xuống.I think you should sit down.This sentence uses ngồi xuống to offer a suggestion.Tatoeba #9709805 by dotheduyet1999, translation #2408640 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hung and Huong are meeting in a cafe.
- HùngHương, mời bạn ngồi xuống.Huong, please sit down.
- HươngCảm ơn Hùng, ghế này thoải mái quá.Thank you Hung, this chair is very comfortable.
- HùngBạn muốn uống gì không?Do you want to drink something?
- HươngTôi sẽ gọi một ly cà phê.I will order a cup of coffee.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sit down” translations and entries ngồi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ngồi, xuống) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ngồi, xuống, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
