VIETNAMESE VS ENGLISH: FUNCTION WORDS
Around 90% of Vietnamese sentences and questions include "strange" or "ambiguous" words that we call function words, functors, or particles. They have little lexical meaning or have ambiguous meaning, but specify the attitude or mood of the speaker***
You can’t master these in just one or two months, but getting familiar with them will significantly improve your listening skills. Generally speaking, these words don’t have a concrete meaning, but they make you sound much more natural and "Vietnamese" when you use them. The good news is that when you’re listening, you can often ignore these words, as they’re typically located at the end of Vietnamese questions or requests.
Commonly Spoken Function Words
Some common function words include:
- ơi, vậy, yạr, yay, nhen, nhé, với.
The usage of these words depends on the purpose of the sentence:
- "Vậy" (which sounds "yạr," or "yay" in southern dialect) is typically added at the end of questions.
- "Với" is often used at the end of imperative sentences.
For example:
- "Could you please pass me the phone?" becomes "Pass me the phone với."
- When you want to call someone or get their attention, you can use "ơi."
- "Mum/dad, please help me." becomes "Mum ơi/Dad ơi, please help me!"
Function Words in Central Vietnamese Dialects
In the central region of Vietnam, function words become even more unique and challenging for learners. Instead of the more common words like vậy or với, central Vietnamese speakers might use:
- "chi," "mô," "răng," "rứa," "hỹ," etc.
These words are region-specific but widely used in everyday conversations, making them confusing but also a fascinating part of learning Vietnamese.
***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_word
***This insight comes from my nearly 10 years of teaching Vietnamese and English. It reflects both common mistakes and the experiences shared by my amazing students. If you use any of these ideas as a reference, please source them appropriately and include a link to the original material.