cảm ơn
[kaːm˧˩ ʔəːn˧˧]
The English phrase 'thanks' is translated into Vietnamese as cảm ơn.
cảm ơn is used to express appreciation or gratitude. To express a stronger sense of gratitude, you can say Cảm ơn rất nhiều, which means 'Thank you very much'.
Meaning: used to express appreciation or gratitude (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cảm ơn literally means 'feel thanks'. It is composed of cảm, meaning to feel or perceive and ơn, meaning favor, grace or a debt of gratitude.
How does it change in a sentence?
While you can use cảm ơn by itself, it is much more natural and polite in Vietnamese to follow it with a personal pronoun (such as anh, chị or bạn) to say 'Thank you [pronoun]'. To specify the reason you are thanking someone, use the structure Cảm ơn vì followed by a verb or a noun.
When do people say it?
A common response to being thanked with cảm ơn is không có gì, which literally means 'it is nothing'.
Did you know?
- In very traditional or formal settings, saying cảm ơn too frequently can actually be seen as distancing yourself from the other person, as if you are treating them like a stranger.
- The word ơn refers to a 'debt of gratitude' and is part of a cultural concept where receiving a favor creates a lifelong moral obligation to the giver.
- The modern phrase cảm ơn is an analogical remodel, created by blending the old cám ơn with the scholarly form cảm ân.
Examples in context
- Cảm ơn vì đã mời tôi.Thanks for inviting me.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for an invitation using cảm ơn.Tatoeba #8943902 by dotheduyet1999, translation #727375 by Eldad
- Cảm ơn vì đã ghé chơi.Thanks for coming by.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for visiting using cảm ơn.Tatoeba #9715750 by dotheduyet1999, translation #3130446 by CK
- Cảm ơn vì ngày hôm qua.Thanks for yesterday.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for a past event using cảm ơn.Tatoeba #13634584 by leucammieuvu, translation #3374657 by CK
- Cảm ơn bạn rất nhiềuThank you very much.
- Xin cảm ơn sự giúp đỡ của anh/chịThank you for your help.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tuấn gives Hương a cup of coffee at the office.
- HươngCảm ơn anh vì ly cà phê.Thank you for the cup of coffee.
- TuấnKhông có gì đâu Hương.You are welcome, Huong.
- HươngNó ngon lắm, cảm ơn anh.It is very delicious, thank you.
- TuấnRất vui khi thấy em thích nó.I am very glad you like it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cảm ơn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cảm, cảm ơn, ơn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
