Signification
Expressing a feeling of sadness.
Contexte culturel
Sadness is often expressed through food. If a friend says 'Tôi buồn', a common response is 'Đi ăn đi' (Let's go eat). Hue is known as the city of sadness and nostalgia. The slow pace and rainy weather are said to make people 'buồn' in a poetic way. A whole genre of music is dedicated to 'nỗi buồn'. It's called 'Nhạc sến' or Bolero, focusing on heartbreak and poverty. Young people use 'tụt mood' (mood drop) or 'sầu' as slang for being sad or disappointed.
Avoid 'là'
Never say 'Tôi là buồn'. It's the most common beginner mistake.
Use 'hơi' to be polite
Saying 'Tôi hơi buồn' sounds more natural and less dramatic than just 'Tôi buồn'.
Signification
Expressing a feeling of sadness.
Avoid 'là'
Never say 'Tôi là buồn'. It's the most common beginner mistake.
Use 'hơi' to be polite
Saying 'Tôi hơi buồn' sounds more natural and less dramatic than just 'Tôi buồn'.
Pronouns matter
Change 'Tôi' to 'Em', 'Con', or 'Cháu' depending on who you are talking to for better emotional connection.
Teste-toi
How do you say 'I am very sad'?
Select the correct Vietnamese translation:
'Quá' goes at the end to add emphasis. 'Là' is incorrect.
Fill in the blank to say 'I am a bit sad'.
Tôi ___ buồn.
'Hơi' means 'a bit' or 'slightly' and is placed before the adjective.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You lost your favorite pen.
'Tôi buồn' expresses the emotional sadness of losing something.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sao bạn khóc? B: _________.
If someone is crying (khóc), they are likely sad because they failed an exam (thi trượt).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Types of 'Buồn'
Emotions
- • buồn bã
- • buồn rầu
- • buồn chán
Physical Urges
- • buồn ngủ
- • buồn nôn
- • buồn tiểu
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesSelect the correct Vietnamese translation:
'Quá' goes at the end to add emphasis. 'Là' is incorrect.
Tôi ___ buồn.
'Hơi' means 'a bit' or 'slightly' and is placed before the adjective.
You lost your favorite pen.
'Tôi buồn' expresses the emotional sadness of losing something.
A: Sao bạn khóc? B: _________.
If someone is crying (khóc), they are likely sad because they failed an exam (thi trượt).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, in casual contexts, especially in the South, 'buồn' is short for 'buồn chán' (bored).
Use 'Tôi không buồn'.
No, it's neutral. But using the correct pronoun (like 'Em' or 'Mình') makes it more natural.
'Buồn' is common and everyday. 'Sầu' is poetic, heavy, and usually found in literature or songs.
Yes, 'Chuyện này buồn quá' (This story/matter is so sad).
It's an idiomatic way to say the body 'desires' or is 'pressed' by sleep.
The most common response is 'Đừng buồn nữa' (Don't be sad anymore) or 'Có chuyện gì vậy?' (What happened?).
Yes, 'trầm cảm', but 'buồn' is often used for mild depression in casual talk.
No, Vietnamese words don't change for plural. You can say 'Chúng tôi buồn' (We are sad).
Yes, 'Con chó trông có vẻ buồn' (The dog looks sad).
Expressions liées
buồn chán
similarBored or disappointed
thất vọng
specialized formDisappointed
vui
contrastHappy
khóc
builds onTo cry
u sầu
synonymMelancholy
