ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại

phrase

Hanoi [ŋwajŋ̟˧˩ ʔɗi˧˧ ŋwajŋ̟˧˩ laːj˧˨ʔ]Huế [ŋwɛɲ˧˨ ʔɗɪj˧˧ ŋwɛɲ˧˨ laːj˨˩ʔ]Saigon [ŋwan˨˩˦ ʔɗɪj˧˧ ŋwan˨˩˦ laːj˨˩˨] browser voice

Syllables · tones

ngoảnhdippinghỏi đilevelngang ngoảnhdippinghỏi lạiheavynặng

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

Meanings of ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại in English

Phrase

colloquial Describes time passing in a flash.

Etymology

ngoảnh + đi + ngoảnh + lại.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại?

IPA: Hanoi [ŋwajŋ̟˧˩ ʔɗi˧˧ ŋwajŋ̟˧˩ laːj˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [ŋwan˨˩˦ ʔɗɪj˧˧ ŋwan˨˩˦ laːj˨˩˨]. Tones: ngoảnh — dipping tone (hỏi), đi — level tone (ngang), ngoảnh — dipping tone (hỏi), lại — heavy tone (nặng).

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