Biển / ʔɓiən˧˩ (n.) • “A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.” - #GraceHopper Oceans are vast bodies of water that cover roughly 70% of the earth. Seas are smaller and partially enclosed by land....

Mất / mət̚˧˦ (adj.) • By definition, “mất” has different meanings based on the context of the subject. They can stand for when you have lost a certain direction, someone, or something. In other words, this word describes something or somebody who is no longer existing. On the contrary, “mất” does not mean you have lost. In Vietnamese, when you lose in a competition or a game, the word for this situation...

Sài Gòn / sàj ɣɔ̀n • Someone once told me, “When you love a writer, yet they don’t write about you, then they are not in love with you.” In 2014, #Vietwordly ‘s very first post was “Sài Gòn.” We did not write about “her” though, we didn’t have the right words. Years and some thousands of followers later, we, slowly but surely, have gathered some of our senses to write about the “Pearl of the Orient.”...

Đi / Dee (v.) • After all; it is fair to say having a #relationship is like traveling . When you meet someone, you are going to an unknown territory, a "shangri-la" or undiscovered land where everything is possible. You both have become a #wanderlust, forever exploring one another. A corner here, a new mountain there - there's always a sense of #adventure together, a companionship. And if you are lucky,...

Trăng / Tranng (n.) / [ṯɕɐŋ˧˧] The usual English proper name for Earth's natural satellite is "the Moon".The noun #moon is derived from moone (around 1380), which developed from "mone," of Old English "mōna." Luna is our personal favorite when it comes to naming this illuminating dot in the sky. The moon is a frequent inspiration for many songs, poems, and other literary pieces. There is something...

Reposting this for its relevancy to our current situations, both globally and locally. A loudest shout-out to our healthcare workers, medical researchers, and all of those who have and continue to contribute to the fight against the #covid19. You all are the definition of real-life #heroes. Thank you for your tireless efforts and biggest hearts. Translation: "This too shall pass." I hope this line...

Yên Lặng / [ʔiən˧˧ laŋ˧˨ʔ] “The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” #Rumi Tạm dịch: "Khi Tâm trở nên yên tĩnh, thì tự khắc bản thân sẽ có thể lắng nghe được nhiều hơn."...

Trò Chơi / Troo-Choyy (n.) • I recently came to a realization that this life is nothing but a children’s #game that each person continues to play throughout their lives. Vietnamese culture also consists of many children’s games, or folk’s games, that somewhat resemble games of other cultures. Some of them are: Dragon and Snake game (Rồng Rắn Lên Mây), Cat and Mouse game (Mèo Bắt Chuột), Tug of War...

Trà / Chah (n.) • “Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.” - Thich Nhat Hanh One of Vietwordly’s favorite quotes by the late Thích Nhất Hạnh. Tea is a way to enlighten the souls, to be inspired, to enjoy amongst companionship, soak in the comfort...

Mình / mïŋ˨˩ • By definition, “Self” stands for the identity, character, or essential qualities of any person or thing, one's own person as distinct from all others. In #Vietnamese, the word “Self” can be represented by both “Bản Thân” (more literal translation) or “Mình.” “Mình” indicates more of a bodily and metaphorical description of one’s self, and can also represent a sense of love that is so...