6 WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU IN VIETNAMESE – YOU CAN START USING TO DAY

Thank you is one of the most basic communication sentences that foreigners need to know and use fluently when learning Vietnamese. Like other languages ​​in the world, there are many ways to say thank you in Vietnamese and depending on the situation, Vietnamese people will choose the most appropriate way to say thank you. 

In this article, Jellyfish will introduce to you 6 ways to say thank you in Vietnamese favored by Vietnamese people and how to respond to them, helping you to speak Vietnamese natively!

thank you in vietnamese

I. 6 Ways to say Thank you in Vietnamese

Here are 6 ways to express gratitude by Vietnamese. It would be great if you knew how to say Thank you in Vietnamese to Vietnamese people in the following ways:

 1.1. Cảm ơn (Thanks in Vietnamese)

  • This is the most basic and easy way which Vietnamese people use to express gratitude in daily conversation. Of course, you can use this phrase in any circumstances. “Cảm ơn” in Vietnamese is a synonym of the word Thanks in English.
  • The two words “Cảm ơn” and “Cám ơn” are basically the same in meaning but slightly different in accents depending on the region.
thanks in Vietnamese
How to say Thanks in Vietnamese?

Example: When you can’t get something from above and someone gets it for you. Then you should say “Cảm ơn”.

1.2. Cảm ơn + Object – Thank you in Vietnamese

  • The phrase above is the most literal translation of the word “Thank you” in English. Instead of saying “Cảm ơn”, you can use them to make your sentence more polite.
  • However, when choosing to say that one, you need to know how to use personal pronouns in Vietnamese. Unlike “you” in English, which can be used with all subjects, personal pronouns in Vietnamese will depend on the age, gender as well as the role (if that person is your relative) of the person you are saying Thank you.

For example: 

  • Anh: Someone who is male and little older than you.
  • Chị: Someone who is female and slightly older than you.
  • Em: Someone is younger than you.

Example: How to say Thank you in Vietnamese:

  • Cảm ơn em: When someone is younger than you.
  • Cảm ơn chị: When that person is female and older than you.

1.3. Cảm ơn nhiều/Cảm ơn nhiều (Thank you so much)

Another way of saying when you want to emphasize your gratitude to someone who has helped you, you can use the phrase “Thank you very much”. This one will be equivalent to the sentence “Thank you very much” in English.

thank you in vietnamese
Thank you so much in Vietnamese
  • The word “Nhiều” has the same meaning as “much” or “a lot” in English.

Example: When your friend comes to pick you up from school because your bike broke down: “Cảm ơn cậu nhiều” (Thank you very much)

Or you can boost the stage of sincerity in your words by adding “nhiều lắm” after the word “Cảm ơn”.

  • The word “Nhiều lắm” shares the same meaning as “so much” in English.

Example: When your sister bought you an extremely beautiful dress. Then you can say “Em cảm ơn chị nhiều lắm” (Thank you so much).

1.4. Saying Thank you in the most formal way

In normal communication, Vietnamese people will rarely use this phrase. We often use this sentence when giving speeches, interviews or in the situation of needing politeness and seriousness.

  • The word “xin” can be understood similarly with “to beg” or “to ask” in English.

Example: When you go for an interview at a company:

  • Interviewer: Cảm ơn bạn đã dành thời gian tới tham dự buổi phỏng vấn của chúng tôi. Chúng tôi sẽ báo kết quả cho bạn trong thời gian sớm nhất (Thank you for taking the time to come to our interview. We will report the results to you as soon as possible).
  • You: Xin cảm ơn! 

1.5. Full words of Thank you phrase in Vietnamese

The same as the above part of Thank you in Vietnamese, in case of saying that phrase, you must have a basic understanding of personal pronouns in Vietnamese. Usually Vietnamese people will use this expression when talking to older people or in polite situations.

  • Use the method: Subject + Thank you + Object

Example: 

  • Em cảm ơn anh (If someone is male and older than you)
  • Em cảm ơn chị (If someone is female and older than you)
  • Cảm ơn em (If someone is younger than you)
  • Cháu cảm ơn cô/chú (If someone has the same age as your parents) 
  • Cháu cảm ơn ông/bà (If someone has the same age as your grandparents)

Note: When speaking to adults, you should use honorifics such as “Dạ”, “Ạ” before or after the word “Thank you”. Please see the part below for more detailed information on how to use it.

1.6. Add honorifics in Thank you phrase

Native speakers often use honorifics when speaking to older people to show their respect. If you say “Cảm ơn” to someone younger or the same age as you, don’t use them.

thank you in Vietnamese - Adding honorifics

  • “Dạ” is often placed at the beginning of the phrase “Thank you”.

Example:

  • Dạ em cảm ơn chị
  • Dạ em cảm ơn anh
  • “Ạ” is frequently used at the end of “Thank you” sentence.

For example: 

  • Con cảm ơn mẹ ạ
  • Cháu cảm ơn bà ạ
  • Em cảm ơn chị ạ
  • You can also mix both of the preceding honorifics to boost the politeness and courtesy of your speech.

Example:

  • Dạ, con cảm ơn bố ạ
  • Dạ, cháu cảm ơn ông ạ

See more:

II. How to respond Thank you in Vietnamese

When receiving thanks from others, Vietnamese people frequently respond to show respect and politeness for the speaker. So how do Vietnamese people usually respond to them?

2.1. Có gì đâu (It’s nothing)

When responding to someone younger or the same age as you, you can say “Có gì đâu”.This words is regularly used in a comfortable environment with people you know well.

Example: When you explain the lesson in class to your friend:

  • Your friend: Tớ cảm ơn nhé (Thank you)
  • You: Có gì đâu (It’s nothing)

2.2. Không có gì (You’re welcome)

In Vietnamese, this phrase has the same meaning as “You’re welcome” in English. Native speakers prefer using them when talking to a stranger’s.

  • When being thanked by someone older than you, remember to include honorifics such as “Dạ”, “Ạ”.

Example: When you help an elderly man in crossing the street during rush hour:

  • Old man: Cảm ơn cháu nhiều (Thank you very much).
  • You: Không có gì ạ/ Dạ không có gì (You’re welcome).

Here is a short instruction of how to say Thank you in Vietnamese which native speakers often use in daily conversations. Remember and practice them on a regular basis so that you can speak Vietnamese natively. Hope this article provides you with useful information!

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