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Start a Jonrney in Vietnam
How to Say Hello in Vietnamese
"The Vietnamese word "chà o" means "hello" when translated into English, but you generally shouldn't use "chà o" on its own when greeting someone in Vietnamese. The language has various rules about greeting others based on age, gender, and familiarity, so you'll need to implement those rules to speak a proper greeting"(wikihow.com, n.d)
(Say "xin chà o" as a general greeting)
If you only learn one Vietnamese greeting, "xin chà o" would likely be the best greeting to choose.
(Use "chà o bạn" when you're close)
If you're close in age to someone, the most accurate way to say "hello" would be "chà o bạn.
(Opt for "chà o anh" or "chà o chị" when speaking to elders)
If the other person is an older male, use "chà o anh." If the other person is an older female, use "chà o chị."
(Switch to "chà o em" for younger people)
If you're speaking to someone notably younger than you, the most appropriate greeting would be "chà o em.
(Address someone by name when appropriate)
If you're on familiar terms with someone, you can follow the "chà o" greeting with that person's name.
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