When talking about a male person who is older than the speaker, or someone of a similar age but in a position of respect (like an older brother or a close male friend), Vietnamese speakers use the pronoun “anh.” It can also be used as a polite second-person pronoun, meaning “you,” when addressing an older male.
For example, if you're a younger sister talking to your older brother, you would call him “anh.” If you're talking to a male waiter who appears older than you, you would also address him as “anh” to show respect.
You're learning Vietnamese, and one of the first words you'll encounter is 'anh'. It's super common, so understanding its various uses is key. This isn't just a word you'll find in textbooks; it's everywhere in daily conversation, from the office to the market.
§ 'Anh' as a General Male Pronoun
In its most basic sense, 'anh' means 'he' or 'him'. You use it when referring to an adult male in the third person. Think of it like saying 'he' in English. It's polite and standard.
Anh ấy là giáo viên của tôi.
- Hint
- He (ấy) is a teacher of mine.
Bạn có thấy anh ta không?
- Hint
- Do you see him (ta)?
§ 'Anh' as 'You' to an Older Male
This is where it gets a little trickier for English speakers. In Vietnamese, personal pronouns are often based on age and relationship. If you're talking to a man who is older than you (or appears to be), you address him as 'anh'. It's a sign of respect.
Anh muốn uống gì?
- Hint
- What do you (older male) want to drink?
Cảm ơn anh.
- Hint
- Thank you (to an older male).
§ 'Anh' at Work and School
In professional and academic settings, 'anh' is very common. You'll hear it used:
- To address male colleagues who are older or in a more senior position.
- To refer to male teachers or professors (though 'thầy' is also common).
- Among students, for older male classmates.
Anh giám đốc đang họp.
- Hint
- The director (older male) is in a meeting.
Anh có thể giúp em bài này không?
- Hint
- Can you (older male, e.g., classmate/senior) help me with this problem?
§ 'Anh' in News and Public Discourse
When you're reading news articles or watching TV, 'anh' is often used to refer to male figures, especially if their age is not explicitly stated but they are perceived as adults. It maintains a respectful and neutral tone.
Cảnh sát đã bắt giữ một anh thanh niên.
- Hint
- Police arrested a young man ('anh thanh niên' is a common phrase).
Phóng viên đã phỏng vấn anh Hùng.
- Hint
- The reporter interviewed Mr. (Anh) Hùng.
§ Family Context: Older Brother
Finally, and perhaps most literally, 'anh' means 'older brother'. This is its core familial meaning and influences its use in other contexts. You'll hear it constantly within families and close circles.
Anh trai tôi rất cao.
- Hint
- My older brother is very tall.
Em có cần anh giúp không?
- Hint
- Do you (younger sibling) need older brother's help?
Aussprachehilfe
- pronouncing it like 'an' instead of 'ang'
Beispiele nach Niveau
Anh ấy là bạn của tôi.
He is my friend.
In Vietnamese, 'ấy' is often added after pronouns like 'anh', 'chị', 'cô' for clarity, especially when referring to someone previously mentioned or to distinguish them from the listener. It's a bit like 'that' or 'the one' in English, making the pronoun more specific.
Bạn có thấy anh ấy ở đâu không?
Have you seen him anywhere?
When asking about someone's whereabouts, it's common to use 'ở đâu' (where) at the end of the question.
Anh thích cà phê hay trà?
Do you (older brother/male) like coffee or tea?
'Anh' is used here as 'you' when addressing an older male or someone you wish to show respect to, like an older brother. The choice between 'cà phê' (coffee) and 'trà' (tea) is a common way to ask preferences.
Anh trai tôi đang học đại học.
My older brother is studying at university.
'Anh trai' specifically means 'older brother'. 'Đang' indicates an ongoing action, similar to '-ing' in English.
Anh có thể giúp tôi một chút không?
Can you (older brother/male) help me a little?
'Có thể' means 'can' or 'to be able to'. 'Một chút' means 'a little bit', indicating a small amount of help.
Anh ấy rất thông minh.
He is very smart.
'Rất' means 'very', used to intensify adjectives. 'Thông minh' means 'smart' or 'intelligent'.
Tôi đã gặp anh ấy hôm qua.
I met him yesterday.
'Đã' indicates a past action. 'Hôm qua' means 'yesterday'.
Anh muốn ăn gì?
What do you (older brother/male) want to eat?
'Muốn' means 'want'. 'Ăn gì' directly translates to 'eat what', a common way to ask what someone wants to eat.
Grammatikmuster
Satzmuster
Anh ấy + verb + object.
Anh ấy ăn cơm.
Chủ ngữ + gặp + anh ấy.
Tôi gặp anh ấy.
Anh + có + adjective + không?
Anh có bận không?
Chào + anh!
Chào anh!
Đây là + anh + noun.
Đây là anh Việt.
Anh + verb + object.
Anh đi đâu?
Tôi + verb + anh.
Tôi đợi anh.
Anh + adjective.
Anh giỏi lắm.
Verwandte Inhalte
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Anh trai
A1Older brother
Bà
A1Grandmother, madam, you (elderly female)
bác
A1Uncle or aunt (older than parents)
Bố
A1Father, dad
Chú
A1Uncle, you (middle-aged male)
Chị
A1She, her, you (older sister/female)
Chị gái
A1Older sister
Chồng
A1Husband
Con
A1Child, animal classifier
con gái
A1Daughter, girl
