âm lịch
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
âm lịch means the lunar calendar.
Meanings of âm lịch in English
Noun
- the lunar calendar
- Tết âm lịchLunar New Year
Usage note: âm lịch
âm lịch means "lunar calendar". Vietnam uses the solar (Gregorian) calendar for official life — dương lịch — but the lunar calendar still governs festivals, death anniversaries and many family rituals.
- Hôm nay là ngày bao nhiêu âm? — What's the lunar date today?
- Tết Trung thu là ngày 15 tháng 8 âm lịch. — The Mid-Autumn Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month.
Lunar vocabulary:
- mùng một / mồng một — the 1st of a lunar month (days 1–10 take mùng)
- rằm — the 15th, full moon
- tháng Giêng — first lunar month; tháng Chạp — twelfth lunar month
- giỗ — death anniversary, counted by the lunar date
Many Vietnamese calendars show both dates: the big number is solar, the small number is lunar. On the 1st and 15th lunar days, many families burn incense and some eat vegetarian food.
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 陰曆, composed of 陰 (“yin”) and 曆 (“calendar”).
Frequently asked questions
What does âm lịch mean in English?
âm lịch (noun) means "the lunar calendar".
How do you pronounce âm lịch?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔəm˧˧ lïk̟̚˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [ʔəm˧˧ lɨt̚˨˩˨]. Tones: âm — level tone (ngang), lịch — heavy tone (nặng).
Is âm lịch a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. âm lịch is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 陰曆.