Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| lạ | [laː˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [laː˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| kì lạ | [ki˨˩ laː˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kɪj˦˩ laː˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| kì dị | [ki˨˩ zi˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kɪj˦˩ jɪj˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
The word lạ is the most common and neutral way to say 'strange' or 'unfamiliar'. When lạ is used as a noun phrase with người (person), it refers to a 'stranger' (someone you do not know) rather than a 'weird person'.
What does it mean word for word?
Kì lạ combines kì (extraordinary/strange) and lạ (unfamiliar) to emphasize the strangeness of a situation or phenomenon.
Which one should you use?
The word lạ is the most common and neutral way to say 'strange' or 'unfamiliar', whereas the other forms imply a stronger sense of being 'weird' or 'bizarre'. Kì dị carries a stronger, more negative connotation of being abnormal or grotesque compared to the neutral lạ.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say something is 'very weird', you place the intensifier rất before the adjective lạ.
Did you know?
- The component kì in the phrase kì lạ is a Sino-Vietnamese word derived from the Chinese character 奇, which means 'extraordinary' or 'strange'.
- Because lạ is neutral, using it to describe a person can be much more polite than using kì dị, which can sound judgmental or offensive.
Examples in context
- Đừng nói gì kì lạ.Don't say weird things.This sentence shows how to use lạ to describe things being said.Tatoeba #13480526 by leucammieuvu, translation #13479457 by CK
- Họ đã nhìn tôi một cách kỳ lạ.They were giving me weird looks.This sentence demonstrates using lạ to describe how people look at someone.Tatoeba #9001548 by dotheduyet1999, translation #8159833 by TheNightAvl
- Kì lạ thật!How weird!This sentence shows how to use lạ to express surprise at a weird situation.Tatoeba #13333945 by leucammieuvu, translation #4462562 by CK
- Anh ta có một thói quen kỳ lạHe has a weird habit
- Hôm nay tôi đã gặp một người lạ, anh ấy hành xử khá kỳ quặcToday, I met a stranger who behaved quite strangely
- Điều gì đó bất thường đang diễn ra ở đâySomething weird is happening here
- Hành vi của anh ta thực sự lạ lùngHis behavior is really weird
- Phương có một cái suy nghĩ rất kỳ lạ.Phuong has a very weird way of thinking.
- Mình đã đọc một cuốn sách thực sự khá kỳ quặc.I have read a really weird book.
- Điều gì đó bất thường đã thu hút sự chú ý của tôi.Something weird caught my attention.
Example conversation
Lan and Nam are talking about a strange sound in the house.
- LanNam ơi, anh có nghe tiếng động lạ không?Nam, do you hear a weird sound?
- NamAnh không nghe thấy gì cả, Lan.I don't hear anything, Lan.
- LanNhưng nó nghe rất lạ.But it sounds very weird.
- NamCó lẽ chỉ là tiếng gió thôi.Maybe it's just the wind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weird” translations and entries lạ, kì lạ, kì dị, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dị, kì, kì dị, kì lạ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
