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coi

Level ≈A2 (approx.) verbinterjection Top 1,000 most common
Hanoi [kɔj˧˧]Huế [kɔj˧˧]Saigon [kɔj˧˧] browser voice
Syllables · tones
coilevelngang

Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →

coi means to look; watch; observe.

Meanings of coi in English

Verb

  1. Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam to look, watch (over), observe, read, etc. ≈ xemtrôngngóđọc
    • coi emto babysit one's younger sibling
    • coi mắtto meet with a date via a dating service
    • coi ti-vito watch TV
  2. to be considered
    • Đây được coi là một trong những chiến công vĩ đại của nhân loại.This is considered one of the most glorious victories of mankind.

Interjection

  1. Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam, colloquial [Look at yourself!] What the heck are you doin'?

Words with coi

coi bộcoi chừngcoi mắtcoi sóccoi thườngcoi trọngtrông coicoi bói

Example sentences with coi

  • Đừng coi tôi như người "bình thường"! Stop seeing me as a "normal" person!
  • Tôi sẽ coi đó là có. I'm going to take that as a yes.
  • Tôi không coi cậu là bạn. I don't consider you friends.
  • Đừng coi nhẹ quyết tâm của cô ấy. Don't underestimate her determination.
  • Đừng coi nhẹ quyết tâm của anh ấy. Don't underestimate his determination.
  • Tôi đang coi ti vi. I'm watching TV.
  • Họ coi khinh cô ấy. They despise her.
  • Tôi thích coi phim Hollywood. I love Hollywood movies.

Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).

Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)

Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, coi could be written as 瑰, 䁛, 𥋳, 𫀢. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.

Usage note: coi

coi is the Southern everyday verb for "watch, look at", where the North tends to say xem.

  • Tối nay coi phim gì? — What are we watching tonight?
  • Coi nè! — Look at this!
  • Để em coi lại. — Let me check again.

Other uses:

  • Look after: coi nhà — look after the house; coi chừng — watch out, be careful: Coi chừng xe! — Watch out for the traffic!
  • Consider, regard: Tôi coi anh như anh trai. — I see you as a brother.
  • Seem (in coi bộ): Coi bộ trời sắp mưa. — Looks like rain.

At the end of a request, coi softens it in Southern speech: Nói lại coi. — Say it again, would you?

Northerners understand coi and use it in coi trọng (value highly) and coi thường (look down on).

Etymology

Cognate with Tho [Cuối Chăm] kɐːj².

Frequently asked questions

What does coi mean in English?

coi (verb) means "to look; watch; observe".

How do you pronounce coi?

IPA: Hanoi [kɔj˧˧]; Saigon [kɔj˧˧]. Tones: coi — level tone (ngang).

Meanings, pronunciation and etymology from English Wiktionary (wiktionary.org, via kaikki.org; CC BY-SA 4.0), reviewed and edited; example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). IPA shown for three accents: Hanoi (Northern), Huế (Central) and Saigon (Southern). The Listen button uses your browser's Vietnamese voice, for reference only. Levels are approximate, estimated from word frequency. Spotted a mistake? Let NgonNgu know.