chào
Chào bạn!
Hello, friend!
A polite greeting used when meeting someone or saying hello
Chào anh!
Hello, brother!
Chào cô!
Hello, sister!
Used in both formal and informal contexts, often followed by the appropriate term of address (anh, chị, em, etc.)
To greet someone or say hello
Anh chào cô ấy mỗi buổi sáng.
He greets her every morning.
Can be used as a verb meaning 'to greet'
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Greeting Etiquette
In Vietnamese culture, greetings are important. Always use the appropriate term of address (anh, chị, em, etc.) when greeting someone.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'Chào' with honorifics in formal settings, and without in informal contexts.
Word Origin
From Sino-Vietnamese 朝 (cháo), meaning 'morning' or 'to greet'. The modern usage as a greeting is influenced by Chinese 早安 (zǎo'ān, 'good morning').
Usage Notes
In formal contexts, it's often used with appropriate honorifics (e.g., 'Chào quý khách' for 'Hello, honored guest'). In casual speech, it can be shortened to just 'Chào'.