Meaning
Not going to bed until late
Cultural Background
In cities like Ho Chi Minh City, 'thức khuya' is often associated with 'cà phê bệt' or 24/7 coffee shops where youth gather to work or socialize. Traditional medicine (Đông y) warns that 'thức khuya' after 11 PM prevents the liver from detoxifying, a belief still widely held by older generations. During 'mùa thi' (exam season), 'thức khuya' is seen as a sign of diligence and is often discussed with a sense of shared struggle among peers. The term 'cày' (plowing) is often paired with 'thức khuya' to describe the intense work culture in the tech and creative industries.
Use with 'hay'
To sound like a native, use 'hay thức khuya' instead of 'thường xuyên thức khuya' in casual chats.
Avoid 'thức muộn'
Even though 'late' is 'muộn', 'thức muộn' sounds very unnatural to Vietnamese ears.
Meaning
Not going to bed until late
Use with 'hay'
To sound like a native, use 'hay thức khuya' instead of 'thường xuyên thức khuya' in casual chats.
Avoid 'thức muộn'
Even though 'late' is 'muộn', 'thức muộn' sounds very unnatural to Vietnamese ears.
The Liver Myth
If someone tells you 'thức khuya hại gan', they are expressing a common cultural health belief. Just nod and agree!
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
Tôi phải ___ để ôn thi học kỳ.
Staying up late to study is 'thức khuya'.
Which sentence is correct?
A: Tôi thức muộn. B: Tôi thức khuya.
'Thức khuya' is the standard collocation; 'thức muộn' is an incorrect literal translation from English.
Complete the dialogue.
Lan: 'Dạo này bạn trông mệt mỏi quá.' - Nam: 'Ừ, mình hay ___ làm việc.'
Staying up late explains the tiredness.
Match the situation to the advice.
Tình huống: Bạn của bạn thường xuyên thức khuya đến 3 giờ sáng.
This is the standard advice for someone staying up too late.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Reasons for Thức Khuya
Work/Study
- • Ôn thi
- • Chạy deadline
- • Làm thêm
Entertainment
- • Xem phim
- • Chơi game
- • Lướt TikTok
Practice Bank
4 exercisesTôi phải ___ để ôn thi học kỳ.
Staying up late to study is 'thức khuya'.
A: Tôi thức muộn. B: Tôi thức khuya.
'Thức khuya' is the standard collocation; 'thức muộn' is an incorrect literal translation from English.
Lan: 'Dạo này bạn trông mệt mỏi quá.' - Nam: 'Ừ, mình hay ___ làm việc.'
Staying up late explains the tiredness.
Tình huống: Bạn của bạn thường xuyên thức khuya đến 3 giờ sáng.
This is the standard advice for someone staying up too late.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually anything after 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM is considered 'khuya'.
In Vietnamese culture, it's generally seen as bad for health, but sometimes respected if it's for studying.
Yes, this is a very common way to describe a 'night owl' schedule.
'Thức đêm' sounds a bit more serious, often implying staying up for the whole night or working a shift.
You can say 'Tôi là cú đêm' (I am a night owl) or 'Tôi hay thức khuya'.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
No, 'thức' means 'to be awake'. 'Thức dậy' means 'to wake up'.
You say 'thức khuya chơi game'.
Yes, e.g., 'Trẻ em không nên thức khuya'.
The opposite is 'ngủ sớm' (go to bed early).
Related Phrases
Thức trắng đêm
specialized formTo stay up all night
Ngủ muộn
similarTo go to bed late
Cày đêm
slangTo grind at night
Dậy sớm
contrastTo wake up early
Cú đêm
synonymNight owl
