tí hon
[ti˧˦ hɔn˧˧]
The English word 'tiny' is translated into Vietnamese as tí hon.
tí hon is used to describe something as very small. It is often used in storytelling or descriptive contexts to emphasize a sense of extreme diminutiveness or cuteness, such as when describing a tiny creature.
Meaning: very small (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word tí itself means very small or minute.
Which one should you use?
While the standard Vietnamese word for small is nhỏ, tí hon is much stronger and specifically conveys the meaning of 'tiny' rather than just 'small'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Vietnam (Miền Bắc), the variation bé tẹo is commonly heard.
Did you know?
- The word tí in tí hon likely traces its roots back to the Chinese character 子, which usually means 'child' or 'son', showing how a word for a small person evolved into a descriptor for size.
- Vietnamese speakers often repeat the word tí as tí tí to emphasize that something is so small it is almost invisible.
- While tí hon describes a physical size, the phrase một tí is used to describe a tiny amount of time, similar to the English 'a little bit'.
Examples in context
- Chiếc túi này nhỏ bé nhưng rất thuận tiện.This bag is tiny, but very convenient.
- Mấy bé xíu này thật đáng yêu!These tiny ones are adorable!
- Đôi giày này siêu nhỏ nhưng rất tiện lợi.These shoes are super tiny, but very convenient.
- Một con robot tí hon.A tiny robot.
- Những hạt cát tí hon.Tiny grains of sand.
- Anh ấy có một ngôi nhà tí hon.He has a tiny house.
Example conversation
Hung and Lan are looking at a miniature model of a city.
- HùngNhìn những chiếc xe tí hon này xem!Look at these tiny cars!
- LanChúng thật là dễ thương, Hùng ạ.They are so cute, Hung.
- HùngChi tiết làm rất tỉ mỉ.The details are very meticulous.
- LanĐúng vậy, Lan cũng thích chúng.That's true, Lan likes them too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tiny” translations and entries tí hon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
