chân hôi
[t͡ɕən˧˧ hoj˧˧]word by word
The English phrase "stinky feet" is translated into Vietnamese as chân hôi.
chân hôi is used to describe feet that have an unpleasant smell.
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of the noun chân (feet) and the adjective hôi (stinky/smelly).
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to the actual odor itself rather than the body part, you can add the noun mùi (smell) at the beginning to create mùi chân hôi.
Did you know?
- The word chân is a linguistic 'double agent'. It is both an indigenous word inherited from Proto-Austroasiatic and a Sino-Vietnamese word derived from the Chinese character for 'truth' or 'genuine'.
- In Vietnamese, there is a sharp distinction between hôi and thối. While hôi describes the pungent smell of 'stinky feet', thối is reserved for the smell of organic decay or rotting.
Examples in context
- Xin lỗi, tôi vừa đi bộ nhiều km nên có chút mùi chân hôi.Excuse me, I just walked a long distance, so my feet might have a slight odor.
- Chân hôi quá!Stinky feet!
- Tại sao chân hôi vậy?Why are your feet so stinky?
- Đừng để chân hôi nhé.Don't let your feet get stinky.
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are at home after a long day.
- NamChi ơi, em có bị chân hôi không?Chi, do you have stinky feet?
- ChiSao anh lại hỏi thế, Nam?Why do you ask that, Nam?
- NamVì anh thấy mùi khó chịu quá.Because I smell something very unpleasant.
- ChiĐể em đi rửa chân ngay đây.Let me go wash my feet right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (chân, hôi) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chân, hôi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
