xấu
[səw˧˦]
The English word "ugly" is translated into Vietnamese as xấu. Wiktionary also lists xấu xí.
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| xấu | [səw˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [səw˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| xấu xí | [səw˧˦ si˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [səw˨˩˦ sɪj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
Both xấu and xấu xí are used to describe something or someone that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Vietnamese slang, the term Xấu vãi is used to intensify the meaning of being ugly.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say something is "not ugly", place không before the adjective, as in không xấu. To emphasize that something is "so ugly" or "very ugly", you can add the word quá after the adjective, forming xấu quá.
Did you know?
- The word xí in the phrase xấu xí has multiple possible origins, potentially linking to Chinese characters for 'toilet' or even the Cantonese word for 'death'.
- While xấu describes appearance, it can also be used to describe a person's behavior or character as 'bad' or 'wicked'.
- In common usage, xấu can be used to describe weather that is 'bad' or 'ugly' in a way that suggests it is gloomy or unfavorable.
Examples in context
- Sao mày xấu thế?Why are you so ugly?This sentence is useful for asking why someone is so ugly using the form xấu.Tatoeba #1564368 by trieuho, translation #1406337 by marcelostockle
- Tom không xấu xí.Tom isn't ugly.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is not ugly using the form xấu.Tatoeba #9082308 by dotheduyet1999, translation #3171265 by CK
- Tôi không xấu. Tôi đẹp.I'm not ugly. I'm pretty.This sentence is useful for contrasting being ugly with being pretty using the form xấu.Tatoeba #13901201 by leucammieuvu, translation #12899315 by Ergulis
- Bức tranh đó xấu.That painting is ugly.
- Cô ấy nghĩ mình xấu nhưng không phải.She thinks she's ugly, but she's not.
- Anh ta xấu trớt!He's so ugly!
- Món ăn này trông xấu xí lắm nhưng ngon lắm!This food looks really ugly, but it's delicious!
- Đừng chụp hình! Tôi trông xấu xí quá!Don't take pictures! I look so ugly!
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Hương are looking at a piece of art in a gallery.
- HùngBức tranh này nhìn xấu quá.This painting looks so ugly.
- HươngTôi lại thấy nó độc đáo.I find it unique instead.
- HùngNhưng màu sắc của nó rất xấu.But its colors are very ugly.
- HươngĐó là phong cách của họa sĩ.That is the artist's style.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugly” translations and entries xấu, xấu xí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries xí, xấu, xấu xí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
