Bạn tên gì?
[ʔɓaːn˧˨ʔ ten˧˧ zi˨˩]word by word
Bạn tên gì? is the Vietnamese way to say "what is your name?"
This phrase is a question used to ask someone for their name. You may see variations like Bạn tên là gì? which adds the verb là (to be) to create a slightly more formal or complete-sounding question.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Bạn tên gì? literally translates to "You name what?"
Which one should you use?
While Bạn tên gì? is the most common way to ask, the version Tên bạn là gì? is a grammatically complete version using the verb là (to be).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can be constructed with or without the verb là (to be). Including là in Bạn tên là gì? makes the question sound slightly more formal or complete than the clipped Bạn tên gì?
When do people say it?
In Vietnamese, instead of the neutral Bạn (friend/you), it is more natural and polite to replace Bạn with a pronoun that reflects the age and gender relationship between you and the listener, such as Anh (older brother), Chị (older sister) or Em (younger sibling).
Did you know?
- The word tên for 'name' is a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character for 'arrow'.
- While you might learn gì as the standard word for 'what', people in Central Vietnam often use chi to ask the same question.
- In many social situations, asking Bạn tên gì? is less common than asking for someone's role or relationship to the speaker first to determine the correct pronoun.
Examples in context
- Bạn tên gì?What is your name?
- Xin lỗi, bạn tên gì?Excuse me, what is your name?
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a social gathering.
- HùngChào bạn, bạn tên gì?Hello, what is your name?
- MaiTôi tên là Mai. Còn bạn?My name is Mai. And you?
- HùngTôi là Hùng.I am Hung.
- MaiRất vui được gặp bạn, Hùng.Nice to meet you, Hung.
