hỏi
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
hỏi means to ask.
Meanings of hỏi in English
Verb
- to ask (request an answer)
- thanh hỏithe tone as in the word hỏi
Words with hỏi
Example sentences with hỏi
- Có lẽ bạn nên hỏi anh ấy. Maybe you should ask him.
- Tôi tự hỏi là mất bao lâu. I wonder how long it's going to take.
- Cứ hỏi anh ấy là tốt nhất. I'd better ask him.
- Cô ấy không dám hỏi gì cả. She doesn't dare ask for anything.
- Có lẽ chúng ta nên hỏi Tom. Maybe we should ask Tom.
- Chúng ta có lẽ nên hỏi Tom. Maybe we should ask Tom.
- Tom hỏi tôi có bạn gái chưa. Tom asked me if I had a girlfriend.
- Có lẽ chúng tôi nên hỏi Tom. Maybe we should ask Tom.
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, hỏi could be written as 𠳨, 𱔁, 嗨, 誨. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Usage note: hỏi
hỏi means "to ask (a question)". Note: it does not mean "ask for something" — that is xin or cho.
- Tôi muốn hỏi một câu. — I'd like to ask a question.
- Cho tôi hỏi, ga tàu ở đâu? — Excuse me, where is the train station?
- Hỏi anh ấy xem. — Ask him and see.
- hỏi đường — ask for directions; hỏi giá — ask the price
The opening Cho tôi hỏi (or Cho em hỏi, Cho cháu hỏi) is the most polite and natural way to start a question to a stranger.
✗ Tôi hỏi một ly nước (to ask for a glass of water) → ✓ Cho tôi xin một ly nước.
Also: hỏi thăm = ask after someone's health, send regards: Cho tôi hỏi thăm gia đình anh. — Give my regards to your family. câu hỏi = question.
Interesting coincidence: hỏi is also the name of the dipping tone (dấu hỏi, the hook above the vowel) — and the word itself carries that tone.
Frequently asked questions
What does hỏi mean in English?
hỏi (verb) means "to ask".
How do you pronounce hỏi?
IPA: Hanoi [hɔj˧˩]; Saigon [hɔj˨˩˦]. Tones: hỏi — dipping tone (hỏi).