Meaning
Expressing a state of anxiety or worry.
Cultural Background
Worrying is often seen as a sign of responsibility. A mother who 'lo' for her children is praised as a 'người mẹ tảo tần' (a hardworking, caring mother). People in the North might use more formal or literary variations like 'lo âu' in serious conversations compared to the South. Young people use 'overthinking' (mượn từ tiếng Anh) or 'lo sốt vó' to describe the modern anxiety of social media and career pressure. In business, expressing 'lo lắng' about a risk is seen as being 'cẩn thận' (careful) and 'có trách nhiệm' (responsible).
The 'Cho' Rule
Always use 'cho' when you worry about a person. It shows you care about them.
Don't over-formalize
In a cafe with friends, just say 'Lo quá!' instead of the full 'Tôi lo lắng'.
Meaning
Expressing a state of anxiety or worry.
The 'Cho' Rule
Always use 'cho' when you worry about a person. It shows you care about them.
Don't over-formalize
In a cafe with friends, just say 'Lo quá!' instead of the full 'Tôi lo lắng'.
Add 'đang'
Adding 'đang' (Tôi đang lo lắng) makes you sound more like a native speaker describing a current feeling.
Worry as Love
If a Vietnamese person says they are 'lo' for you, take it as a compliment—it means you are important to them.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct preposition (về or cho).
Tôi lo lắng ___ sức khỏe của bà nội.
We use 'cho' when worrying about a person's well-being.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I'm very worried'?
Choose the best option:
'Quá' is the standard way to add emphasis to an emotion.
Match the Vietnamese phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the three most common patterns for this phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ngày mai tôi đi phỏng vấn. B: Bạn có ___ không?
Worry is the most logical emotion before a job interview.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Lo vs. Sợ
Practice Bank
4 exercisesTôi lo lắng ___ sức khỏe của bà nội.
We use 'cho' when worrying about a person's well-being.
Choose the best option:
'Quá' is the standard way to add emphasis to an emotion.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the three most common patterns for this phrase.
A: Ngày mai tôi đi phỏng vấn. B: Bạn có ___ không?
Worry is the most logical emotion before a job interview.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsIn Vietnamese, the line is blurry, but it functions as a stative verb. You don't need the word 'to be' (là).
It's better to say 'về kỳ thi'. 'Cho' is usually reserved for living beings.
'Lo' is shorter and more casual. 'Lo lắng' is more complete and slightly more formal/serious.
Say 'Đừng lo lắng' or simply 'Đừng lo'.
Yes, to express concern about risks or deadlines in a professional manner.
The most common opposite is 'an tâm' (to feel secure/at peace).
No, use 'hồi hộp' for that nervous-excited feeling.
Not necessarily. It usually refers to normal, everyday worry unless specified as 'rối loạn lo âu'.
Say 'Tôi hơi lo lắng'.
Yes! If you miss the rising tone, it might not be understood.
Yes, just add 'đã': 'Tôi đã lo lắng'.
Yes, if you follow it with a reason and a potential solution.
It's a slang term for being extremely worried/frantic.
It's a cultural value called 'lo toan', emphasizing collective responsibility.
Related Phrases
lo âu
synonymAnxious and sad
lo sợ
similarTo be worried and afraid
bồn chồn
similarRestless/Fidgety
an tâm
contrastTo feel at peace/secure
lo toan
builds onTo worry and take care of
