Người yêu
[ŋɨəj˨˩ ʔiəw˧˧]
In Vietnamese, sweetheart is expressed as Người yêu.
Người yêu can be used by both genders to refer to their significant other. Depending on who is speaking and who they are addressing, specific terms are often used: a woman will often address her husband or boyfriend as Anh yêu, while a man will typically address his wife or girlfriend as Em yêu. The playful term Bé iu can translate to "darling" or "dear" and is often used to address family members or close friends in a playful and affectionate way.
Meaning: a person very much liked or loved by someone (noun)
When do people say it?
The term Anh yêu is often used by a woman to address her husband or boyfriend. The term Em yêu is typically used by a man to address his wife or girlfriend.
Did you know?
- The term Bé iu uses a deliberate misspelling of yêu to create a 'cute' or baby-talk effect.
- In Vietnamese culture, using Anh yêu or Em yêu can be seen as overly sentimental or 'cheesy' if used constantly in public.
- The word yêu is potentially linked to the Chinese character 妖, which originally meant 'charming' or 'enchanting' rather than 'monstrous'.
Examples in context
- Anh yêu, em có biết không? Tình yêu em dành cho anh vô tận.Beloved, do you know that my love for you is boundless?
- Em bé, anh nhớ em lắm đấy.Baby, I miss you so much.
- Anh ấy là người yêu của tôi.He is my sweetheart.
- Tôi muốn giới thiệu người yêu của mình.I want to introduce my sweetheart.
- Người yêu của cô ấy rất tốt bụng.Her sweetheart is very kind.
Example conversation
Chi and Minh are talking about their relationships.
- ChiMinh, người yêu của anh tên là gì?Minh, what is your sweetheart's name?
- MinhNgười yêu của anh tên là Lan.My sweetheart's name is Lan.
- ChiCô ấy có dễ thương không?Is she cute?
- MinhCô ấy vừa xinh vừa hiền.She is both beautiful and gentle.
