tội nghiệp
Hanoi [toj˧˨ʔ ŋiəp̚˧˨ʔ]Huế [toj˨˩ʔ ŋiəp̚˨˩ʔ]Saigon [toj˨˩˨ ŋip̚˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
tội nghiệp means poor; pathetic; pitiful.
Chinese characters: 罪業
Meanings of tội nghiệp in English
Adjective
- poor; pathetic; pitiful ≈ tội
- Tội nghiệp mày quá!Oh you poor thing!
Verb
- to pity; to feel sorry for
Noun
- sin
Example sentences with tội nghiệp
- Con chó tội nghiệp. Poor dog.
- Tội nghiệp bọn trẻ! Poor kids!
- Cậu bé tội nghiệp ấy phải gánh trên vai gánh nặng bệnh tật của mẹ mình. That poor young boy has to shoulder the burden of his mother's illness.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 罪業 (“Buddhist sin”), from Chinese 罪 (zuì, “sin; crime”) + 業 /业 (yè, “karma”).
Frequently asked questions
What does tội nghiệp mean in English?
tội nghiệp (adjective) means "poor; pathetic; pitiful".
How do you pronounce tội nghiệp?
IPA: Hanoi [toj˧˨ʔ ŋiəp̚˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [toj˨˩˨ ŋip̚˨˩˨]. Tones: tội — heavy tone (nặng), nghiệp — heavy tone (nặng).
Is tội nghiệp a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. tội nghiệp is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 罪業.