muốn
[muən˧˦]
The English word 'want' is translated into Vietnamese as muốn. Wiktionary also lists cần.
Meaning: to desire (verb)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| muốn | [muən˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [muəŋ˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
| cần | [kən˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kəŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
The term muốn is used to express a desire for something. You can use it to express wanting to perform an action or wanting a physical object.
Which one should you use?
While muốn expresses a desire or a want, the word cần is used to express a necessity or a need.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express wanting to perform an action, place the verb directly after muốn without an infinitive marker. To express wanting a physical object, place the noun directly after muốn.
Did you know?
- In some dialects, muốn can be used as an adverb meaning 'almost' or 'nearly' when describing a state of being, like nearly falling asleep.
- While muốn expresses a general desire, the word thèm is used specifically for a craving, such as wanting a particular food or a cigarette.
- The word cần for 'need' can also mean 'fishing-rod' in Vietnamese, though these two meanings are completely unrelated in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- Tớ muốn ở lại.I want to stay.This sentence shows how to use muốn to express a desire to stay.Tatoeba #6275733 by moriole, translation #1887895 by CK
- Em muốn ăn gì?What do you want to eat?This sentence uses muốn to ask about a desire to eat.Tatoeba #11751622 by quoctrong018, translation #372015 by saeb
- Họ vẫn muốn nó.They still want it.This sentence uses muốn to express that they still want something.Tatoeba #10006752 by dotheduyet1999, translation #2011439 by CK
- Tôi muốn mua một chiếc điện thoạiI want to buy a phone
- Tôi muốn biết thêm thông tinI want to know more information
- Tôi có mong muốn được tham gia dự ánI have a desire to participate in the project
- Tôi có mong muốn được trở thành thành viênI have a desire to become a member
- Mình muốn đi xem phimI want to go watch a movie
- Tớ muốn ăn một cái bánh ngọtI want to eat a piece of cake
- Tôi muốn mua một căn hộ ở trung tâm thành phố.I want to buy an apartment in the city center.
- Hôm nay, tôi muốn đi xem phim cùng bạn.Today, I want to go watch a movie with you.
- 559 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are deciding what to drink at a cafe.
- NamChi muốn uống gì?What do you want to drink, Chi?
- ChiEm muốn một ly cà phê.I want a cup of coffee.
- NamAnh cũng muốn uống cà phê.I want to drink coffee too.
- ChiVậy mình gọi hai ly nhé.Then let's order two cups.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “want” translations and entries muốn, cần, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cần, muốn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
