Gaining knowledge of how to properly express the date in Vietnamese can greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in daily interactions. The Vietnamese language offers different ways to express dates, depending on the formality and regional variations. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore both formal and informal ways, providing you with numerous tips and examples along the way.
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions of the Date
When it comes to formal situations in Vietnamese, such as official documents, invitations, or business settings, it’s essential to adhere to proper phrasing while mentioning the date. Let’s start with the day of the week before diving into the specific date format.
Days of the Week
The Vietnamese language uses the same names for weekdays as English, although the pronunciation might differ slightly:
- Monday – Thứ Hai
- Tuesday – Thứ Ba
- Wednesday – Thứ Tư
- Thursday – Thứ Năm
- Friday – Thứ Sáu
- Saturday – Thứ Bảy
- Sunday – Chủ Nhật
Date Format
Vietnamese typically follows the format of “Ngày (day) tháng (month), năm (year)“. When using this formal structure, you can substitute the English words with Vietnamese equivalents as follows:
“Ngày Thứ (day of the week), ngày (day) tháng (month), năm (year).”
Consider the following example:
English: Monday, 12th September 2022
Vietnamese: “Ngày Thứ Hai, ngày mười hai tháng chín, năm hai ngàn hai mươi hai.”
It’s crucial to note that the first day of the week is Sunday in Vietnamese, so the given example corresponds to the date mentioned.
Informal Ways to Express the Date
In casual conversations or less formal settings, Vietnamese speakers tend to use simpler expressions to denote dates. These informal ways focus on omitting certain phrases and maintaining a more concise structure. Let’s dive into some examples:
Date Format
The informal format typically omits the day of the week and the word “ngày” (day) while stating the date.
Consider the following example:
English: 15th June 2023
Vietnamese: “Mười lăm tháng sáu hai ngàn hai mươi ba.”
In this informal expression, we removed the day of the week and the word “ngày” (day) to make it more concise and suitable for casual usage.
Regional Variations
While the formal and informal expressions described above are widely understood and used throughout Vietnam, certain regional variations exist. It’s important to note these differences to avoid any confusion when interacting with speakers from specific regions. Let’s explore some examples:
Northern Vietnamese
In the northern region of Vietnam, some variations in date expression can be observed. These include:
- Using “ngày” (day) before stating the day and month, even in informal contexts.
- Using “ngày” (day) after stating the month when mentioning the date.
Southern Vietnamese
In the southern region of Vietnam, people tend to follow the standard format more strictly, both in formal and informal settings. However, they have a different way of expressing the word “day” (ngày) compared to the northern dialects. Instead of “ngày,” speakers might use “zời” or “zoi.”
Useful Phrases
Here are additional useful phrases related to expressing dates in Vietnamese:
- To ask “What is the date today?” say: “Hôm nay ngày bao nhiêu?”
- To answer, you can say: “Hôm nay là ngày (day) tháng (month).”
- When acknowledging someone’s birthday, say: “Chúc mừng sinh nhật!”
- To wish someone in advance, say: “Chúc mừng sinh nhật trước nhé!”
By employing these phrases along with the proper date expressions, you’ll be able to engage seamlessly in conversations involving dates with native Vietnamese speakers.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of expressing the date in Vietnamese opens up doors for better communication in formal and informal contexts. Whether you’re interacting with locals, planning events, or handling official documents, this guide has equipped you with the necessary tools to navigate the Vietnamese date vocabulary.
