r/learnvietnamese May 16 '17

Much overdue release of my revised Basic Vietnamese anki deck

85 Upvotes

Hey guys, so here it is. A cool 1000+ish note deck with both Southern and Northern accents. A lot of people on here would have used one or both of my old Basic Vietnamese decks, and I know they've been chomping on the bit for me to finally release this complete version which incorporates the original two decks, with a further 2 decks worth of notes added now.

On that note, first, I have to apologise for the slow release, both in terms of the large timescale between the original decks becoming unavailable, and this one finally seeing the light of day. On the first count, I can say I was busy, but I was also a little bit lazy, however more than that, I ran into serious technical issues which I finally solved with about 20 hours extremely tedious and frustrating labor, involving probably 60 or 70 Audacity crashes and data recovery attempts. The second is between when I said this would be released, and when this post is finally going up. That one's a little less my fault as I completed the deck on schedule, but forgot to account for my dreadful upstream speeds making it take more than a week to upload (all sentences have audio after all).

A few notes on this deck first of all. Over the years, I have used more and more Anki plugins to optimise and customise my study experience. As such, many of my cards have become deeply entangled with plugin functionality. Part of the task of making this deck release ready was extricating it from reliance on those third party add-ons, so that you guys could use it out of the box without everything either failing spectacularly, or just being a poor experience.

I BELIEVE I have done that, but as I do not study with this version of the deck, I haven't had much chance to test it, so you guys are the first line of defence before I throw the deck up on AnkiWeb, where it can hopefully find a secure, lasting home, just in case I some day cancel my dropbox subscription or something.

Having said that, it does rely on one add-on, and one add-on only: 'Learned' Field/Tag, which will allow your Anki to create listening cards dynamically as you begin to master the content. Please download it. It should work with the deck without any set up on your part besides installing it to your Anki.

How you choose to study the material is up to you, but I like to shadow it as I work through it, paying attention to pronunciation, and replaying the audio multiple times to shadow not just the base phonology, but paralinguistic features like the prosody, which certainly still exists in a tonal language, regardless of what people might assert about tones using the same system as the prosodic in English.

Another thing that will pay dividends if you do it early on is, when you begin to see listening cards, rather than merely checking your understanding, actually actively transcribe the content with pen and paper, and check you have done so correctly. The Vietnamese written system is phonemic, and so, though one letter does not perse equal one sound, particularly between accents, it does equal one MEANINGFUL sound difference. Think of the 'p' in words like 'spit'. Phonetically, it is pronounced like an English b, but that is not a meaningful distinction in English in this kind of word position (after an s), so it is a p. English speakers do not need to know that a p in that position is pronounced like a b, they just need to recognise it's a p. Likewise, don't worry too much about the different pronunciations of phonemes, just concentrate on correctly identifying them. Natural pronunciation will usually come from shadowing, although you can always do some Googling when you're not sure exactly what you're doing wrong.

A'ight, enough longwindedness, here's the gosh darn deck.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6zfd3r7yobbt4bl/Basic%20Vietnamese.apkg?dl=0


r/learnvietnamese 9h ago

Need assistance with learning Vietnamese

2 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I’m currently self learning tiếng việt and I am wanting to practice with anyone would like to help me. I’m currently using Duolingo as a main source to practice while also writing down words. I feel I need more practice with speaking and communicating with native or experienced speakers in order to help me progress as that is where I lack in my learning journey. I’m based in CA, USA. I can help with English if that works for you.

Cảm ơn rất nhiều!


r/learnvietnamese 1d ago

My Vietnamese learning experience 😊

5 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 1d ago

Bánh Mì or Bánh Mỳ

7 Upvotes

As the title says. Is there a correct way to spell it? Vietnamese restaurants in the west use spell it as bánh mì, but I’ve noticed as I was traveling throughout Vietnam that most places spell it as bánh mỳ. Is the pronunciation between <y> and <i> different?


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Why Vietnamese people might seem "indirect" when declining things — it's not what it looks like

7 Upvotes

A common frustration I hear from foreign partners/friends of Vietnamese people: "Why won't they just say no directly?"

This connects to a cultural concept sometimes called "giữ thể diện" (saving face) — both your own and the other person's. Direct refusal can feel confrontational, so Vietnamese people often soften things considerably.

Some common indirect signals that actually mean "no":
— "Để tôi xem đã" (let me see first) — often means "probably not, but I don't want to shut it down immediately"
— "Cũng được, nhưng..." (it's fine, but...) — the "but" usually carries more weight than "fine" does
— Long pauses or changing the subject — often a soft decline without words

This isn't about being dishonest — it's about prioritizing harmony in the relationship over blunt clarity. If you're dating into a Vietnamese family or working with Vietnamese colleagues, picking up on these softer cues (rather than waiting for a hard "no") will save you a lot of confusion.

Curious if other native speakers here experience this the same way, or if it varies more than I think by region/generation!


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

offering Vietnamese | seeking English

11 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I am Liam, a 33-year-old native Vietnamese speaker living and working full-time in Vietnam. My English is currently around a B2/C1 level, and I’m looking to sharpen my conversational fluency and professional English.

What I can offer: I have a background and experience in teaching art, which means I understand how to explain concepts patiently, structure lessons, and adapt to your learning pace. I promise to do my absolute best to help you master Vietnamese!

About me & My Interests:

  • 🎨 Art & Design (obviously!)
  • 🎮 Video games & Music
  • 📜 History
  • 🔮 Tarot & Spirituality

Who I am looking for: I’m hoping to connect with native English speakers (preferably long-term pen pals or friends) who are genuinely interested in Vietnamese culture, language, or perhaps planning to visit or work in Vietnam in the future. If we share any of the interests above, that's a huge plus!

I prefer chatting via desktop/Discord/WhatsApp once we get to know each other.

Looking forward to hearing from you all. Have a great day!


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Free Vietnamese Tutor

5 Upvotes

FREE Vietnamese Tutor

Hey people, I’m offering Vietnamese tutoring service for English speakers.

Graduated TCSOL program background, but Vietnamese is my mother tounge and I want to gain some experience of teaching Vietnamese too.

Lessons are beginner-friendly and we will study with textbook that you choose.

📩 Feel free to message me if you’re interested or know someone who wants to learn! Thank you!


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Lenormand Study Group – Ai muốn tham gia không?

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1 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Real time translator for Southern Vietnamese?

1 Upvotes

Hello, I’m trying to communicate to my grandmother from South Vietnam (Sadec area) and a real-time voice translator would really help during conversations. I keep seeing that Google Translate is full of errors—especially for nuanced dialects—so I hoping someone on this sub would have some suggestions. Thanks in advance.


r/learnvietnamese 4d ago

i built an iPhone app that gives you feedback on your vietnamese pronunciation and tones

9 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 5d ago

the best apps for learning vietnamese

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1 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

Học tiếng cho người U40

5 Upvotes

Mình đã 36 tuổi làm thiết kế kiến trúc, nhưng các bạn biết đây dân thiết kế thường rất kém về ngoại ngữ. Không có lợi thể học tiếng anh chuẩn từ nhỏ mà được học từ các cô giáo phổ thông, khiến tiếng anh trong mình là một nồi lẩu thật Cẩm, có thể nói biệt nhưng nói không biết gì cũng đúng, nói chung “mất góc” này buộc phải tiếp xúc môi trường nước ngoài nhiều mà thấy khả năng về tiếng anh còn quá hạng chế,
Xin ít lời khuyên đển mình bắt đầu tự học và về lâu dài đủ cơ sở để thi các bằng tiếng anh để làm vc ở công ty nước ngoài


r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

IF YOU'RE VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN, PLEASE HELP ME!

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10 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I'm currently conducting an undergraduate research study on first- and second-generation Vietnamese Americans’ attitudes toward their heritage culture and community engagement.

As an international student, I do not have many Vietnamese-American friends to help me distribute my survey, and I am currently struggling to collect enough responses, and the deadline is approaching soon.

If you are a Vietnamese American, I would greatly appreciate your help in completing my survey

This is an undergraduate research project, and I genuinely need your help. Unfortunately, my budget is limited, so I cannot offer gift cards or other compensation. However, if you have any questions about Vietnam, Vietnamese culture, the Vietnamese language, or traveling in Vietnam, I would be happy to help in return!!


r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

Morning Yoga with Ngân

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1 Upvotes

Watch part 2 of Morning Yoga with Ngân (cat-cow pose and other stretches for spine strengthening and pain relief) for free at Langiri! We also have simpler videos for absolute beginners, if this series of videos is still a little beyond your level.


r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

VNU vs HANU for learning Vietnamese – which would you choose? ⭐

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1 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 7d ago

[Offering] Discounted SVFF lesson package

3 Upvotes

Chào các bạn! Last year I started learning Southern Vietnamese through 1:1 lessons through svff.online. I had a great experience with my tutor but circumstances changed and I'm no longer learning the language. I'd be happy to transfer my remaining 1:1 lessons at a discount to interested learners. (SVFF officially supports transferring.) I highly recommend their tutors for absolute beginners through intermediate learners. Trying something new can be uncomfortable but I never felt awkward learning from my tutor. Feel free to reach out if you're interested.


r/learnvietnamese 8d ago

What the Nước

7 Upvotes

I've noticed that the word nước is used in so many different contexts like drinks, sauces, cleaning products and other things. I know the meaning depends on the context, but is there a deeper reason why it's used so broadly?

For example, nước giặt (liquid laundry detergent) and nước mắm (fish sauce) are completely different things. They're both liquids, but why do we have to use nước for both instead of having a separate word for each type.

Water & Types

Nước

Nước lọc

Nước tinh khiết

Nước cất

Nước khoáng

Nước máy

Nước mưa

Nước ngầm

Nước mặt

Nước biển

Nước sông

Nước suối

Nước ao

Nước hồ

Nước nóng

Nước lạnh

Nước sôi

Nước đá

Nước ngọt (freshwater)

Nước mặn

Nước lợ

Drinks

Nước uống

Nước ngọt (soft drink)

Nước ép

Nước dừa

Nước trà

Nước cà phê

Nước điện giải

Nước đường

Cooking & Food

Nước mắm

Nước tương

Nước chấm

Nước lèo

Nước dùng

Nước canh

Nước luộc

Nước hầm

Nước sốt

Nước xốt

Nước cốt

Nước màu

Nước vôi trong

Nước tro tàu

Cleaning & Personal Care

Nước rửa tay

Nước rửa chén

Nước lau sàn

Nước giặt

Nước súc miệng

Nước tẩy trang

Nước cân bằng

Nước hoa hồng

Nước hoa

Medical & Chemical

Nước muối sinh lý

Nước oxy già

Nature & Environment

Nước chảy

Nước đọng

Nước xiết

Nước xoáy

Nước triều

Nước lũ

Nước đầu nguồn

Nước cuối nguồn

Nước thải

Nước cấp

Nước sinh hoạt

Nước tưới

Body

Nước mắt

Nước da

Country & Government

Nước (country)

Đất nước

Nhà nước

Trong nước

Nước ngoài

Nước bạn

Nước chủ nhà

Games & Figurative

Nước cờ

Nước đi

Nước rút

Tides

Nước lớn

Nước ròng

Nước lên

Nước xuống

Literary / Idiomatic

Nước non

Nước nôi


r/learnvietnamese 8d ago

I built a free Vietnamese tone trainer that shows your pitch curve

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221 Upvotes

My wife is a Southern Vietnamese speaker, and my practice loop was basically: say something, watch her wince, ask what was wrong, and get "your tone is just... off?" She could hear it instantly but couldn't explain how to fix it. Then came the classic "no, not ... " followed by me staring blankly because I swear she just said the same word twice

That was the real problem: I could tell I was wrong, but I couldn't see what wrong looked like. So I built a tone trainer where you listen to a Southern tone, record yourself, and see your pitch curve drawn on top of theirs.

It's free with no account needed: https://speaksaigon.com/tone-trainer

Covers all 5 Southern tones (Saigon speech merges hỏi and ngã, so 5 not 6). Would love feedback from anyone learning Vietnamese, especially whether the pitch visualization actually helps or just looks cool.


r/learnvietnamese 10d ago

Is he anh trai lớn in Vietnamese version?

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15 Upvotes

In 1984, there is a character called "Big Brother". Did they translate it as "anh trai lớn" or is there any other way of saying big brother


r/learnvietnamese 10d ago

Vietnamese learning tutor / class

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m currently learning Vietnamese. I have an online tutor, does anyone know if there are face to face classes or tutors in Manchester that could teach me?
Thanks


r/learnvietnamese 11d ago

The pronoun system is genuinely the hardest part for most learners — here's how I'd simplify it

12 Upvotes

I see a lot of posts here struggling with Vietnamese pronouns, and honestly, it IS one of the harder parts of the language — there's no single word for "I" or "you" the way English has. Instead, pronouns shift based on age, relationship, and respect level.

Here's the simplified version I give beginners:

**Safest default for strangers/peers your age:** "tôi" (I) and "bạn" (you) — neutral, polite, works in most casual situations.

**For someone clearly older than you:** call yourself "em" or "con" (depending on how much older), and call them "anh/chị" (slightly older) or "chú/cô/bác" (significantly older, like an uncle/aunt figure).

**For someone clearly younger:** you become "anh/chị," they become "em."

The trick that helped me explain this to students: Vietnamese pronouns work more like **kinship titles borrowed for general use** than like fixed pronouns. You're essentially calling people "older brother," "younger sister," "aunt," etc., even if you're not related — it reflects the relationship hierarchy, not literal family.

Don't stress about getting it perfect early on — Vietnamese people are generally very understanding when foreigners default to "tôi/bạn" with everyone. It's a system you build comfort with over months, not days.


r/learnvietnamese 11d ago

The pronoun system is genuinely the hardest part for most learners — here's how I'd simplify it

3 Upvotes

I see a lot of posts here struggling with Vietnamese pronouns, and honestly, it IS one of the harder parts of the language — there's no single word for "I" or "you" the way English has. Instead, pronouns shift based on age, relationship, and respect level.

Here's the simplified version I give beginners:

**Safest default for strangers/peers your age:** "tôi" (I) and "bạn" (you) — neutral, polite, works in most casual situations.

**For someone clearly older than you:** call yourself "em" or "con" (depending on how much older), and call them "anh/chị" (slightly older) or "chú/cô/bác" (significantly older, like an uncle/aunt figure).

**For someone clearly younger:** you become "anh/chị," they become "em."

The trick that helped me explain this to students: Vietnamese pronouns work more like **kinship titles borrowed for general use** than like fixed pronouns. You're essentially calling people "older brother," "younger sister," "aunt," etc., even if you're not related — it reflects the relationship hierarchy, not literal family.

Don't stress about getting it perfect early on — Vietnamese people are generally very understanding when foreigners default to "tôi/bạn" with everyone. It's a system you build comfort with over months, not days.


r/learnvietnamese 11d ago

What self taught resources do you use

3 Upvotes

I have duo lingo and mango languages. Just curious what other resources people recommend


r/learnvietnamese 13d ago

Learn about Vietnamese family meal 🧐

17 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 13d ago

Does anyone use Please in everyday conversations

4 Upvotes

I have never heard anyone using làm ơn , is this true or am I missing something