hèn

Level ≈B2 (approx.) adjectiveconjunction Top 5,000 most common

Hanoi [hɛn˨˩]Huế [hɛŋ˦˩]Saigon [hɛŋ˨˩] browser voice

Syllables · tones

hènfallinghuyền

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

hèn means lowly or unworthy of note; sleazy; dishonest or unscrupulous.

Meanings of hèn in English

Adjective

lowly or unworthy of note
- kẻ hèn (mọn) nàyThe unworthy me
sleazy, dishonest or unscrupulous ≈ hèn hạ đê hèn đê tiện bẩn bẩn thỉu
- trò hèna sleazy scam
cowardly ≈ hèn nhát
- Đồ hèn!You coward! / You little chicken! / You pathetic son of a bitch!

Conjunction

in compounds therefore; so

Words with hèn

đê hèn hèn hạ hèn mạt hèn nhát hèn chi hèn gì

Example sentences with hèn

Mày chỉ là một thằng hèn. You're just a coward.
Cậu chỉ là một thằng hèn. You're just a coward.
Nó quá yếu hèn để cố gắn việc đó. He is too much of a coward to attempt it.

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, hèn could be written as 閑, 闲, 䝨, 𠍦. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.

Etymology

Probably non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 寒 (“humble, petty, lowly”, SV: hàn).

Frequently asked questions

What does hèn mean in English?

hèn (adjective) means "lowly or unworthy of note; sleazy; dishonest or unscrupulous".

How do you pronounce hèn?

IPA: Hanoi [hɛn˨˩]; Saigon [hɛŋ˨˩]. Tones: hèn — falling tone (huyền).

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.