lên
[len˧˧]
The English word 'up' can be translated into Vietnamese as lên.
While lên literally means to move away from the earth's surface, it is frequently used as a particle after verbs to indicate an increase in speed, intensity or degree. This functions similarly to how 'up' works in English phrasal verbs like 'hurry up' or 'speed up'.
Meaning: away from earth’s surface (adv)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to indicate an increase in quantity, level or a change in state, lên can follow a verb or an adjective. For example, 'tăng lên' means to increase or go up.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, lên is used when talking about 'going up' to a city from a rural area, regardless of the actual elevation.
- The word lên can be used to describe the act of boarding a vehicle, such as 'getting on' a bus or plane.
- The word lên is a close linguistic relative of the Khmer word ឡើង (laəng), meaning 'to go up' or 'upwards'.
Examples in context
- Bạn phải nhanh lên.You must hurry up.This sentence shows how to use lên when telling someone to hurry.Tatoeba #9778084 by dotheduyet1999, translation #69497 by CK
- Thoáng cái chân lên!Hurry up.This sentence is another way to express the command to hurry up using lên.Tatoeba #5168544 by truongap, translation #1329 by brauliobezerra
- Nó đầy lên quá nhanh!It fills it up way too fast!This sentence demonstrates using lên to describe a rapid increase in volume or level.Tatoeba #3486819 by tucm, translation #2179032 by ismaximum
- Vui lòng đi lên cầu thang.Please go up the stairs.
- Bọn tao đi lên núi vào cuối tuần.We're going up the mountain this weekend.
- Đừng bỏ cuộc.Don't give up.
- Con diều đang bay cao lên.The kite is flying up high.
- đi lênTo go up / to ascend
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are watching a colorful hot air balloon at a festival.
- NamChi nhìn kìa, khinh khí cầu bay lên rồi!Chi look, the hot air balloon is flying up!
- ChiNó bay lên cao quá.It is flying up so high.
- NamĐẹp thật đấy, nó đang bay lên trên những đám mây.It's so beautiful, it's flying up above the clouds.
- ChiĐúng vậy, nhìn nó bay lên thật tuyệt.That's right, seeing it go up is wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “up” translations and entries lên, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
