lẽ
Hanoi [lɛ˦ˀ˥]Huế [lɛ˧˨]Saigon [lɛ˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
lẽ means reason; rationale; argument.
Meanings of lẽ in English
Noun
- reason; rationale; argument
Adjective
- abbreviation short for vợ lẽ (“second wife; concubine”)
- làm lẽto be a concubine
Words with lẽ
Example sentences with lẽ
- Bạn đáng lẽ nên gọi cho tôi. You should've phoned me.
- Đáng lẽ bạn nên tới sớm hơn. You should have come sooner.
- Đáng lẽ chúng ta đã chết rồi. We should be dead by now.
- Đáng lẽ tôi nên ở nhà. I should've stayed home.
- Tôi đáng lẽ nên ở nhà. I should've stayed home.
- Đáng lẽ bạn không nên ăn cá sống. You shouldn't have eaten the fish raw.
- Đáng lẽ bạn nên gọi cho tôi mới phải. You should've phoned me.
- Tom đáng lẽ nên nói sự thật mới phải. Tom should've told the truth.
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, lẽ could be written as 𨤧, 理, 𨤻, 𠲥. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 理 (“reason”, SV: lí).
Frequently asked questions
What does lẽ mean in English?
lẽ (noun) means "reason; rationale; argument".
How do you pronounce lẽ?
IPA: Hanoi [lɛ˦ˀ˥]; Saigon [lɛ˨˩˦]. Tones: lẽ — creaky rising tone (ngã).