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hành
/hàjŋ̟ˀ/
scallion
Mẹ mua hành tây và hành lá về nấu canh.
Mom bought onions and scallions to make soup.
everyday
A green onion or scallion, used as a vegetable in cooking.
Cô ấy thái hành thật nhỏ để cho vào bánh xèo.
She chopped the scallions finely to add to the bánh xèo.
Commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine for flavoring and garnishing.
formal
To act, to perform, or to do (as in 'hành động' — to act).
Anh ấy đang hành động theo kế hoạch.
He is acting according to the plan.
Often combined with other words to form compound verbs (e.g., hành động, hành hạ).
informal
To punish or to torment (as in 'hành hạ').
Nó bị hành hạ bởi những kẻ bắt nạt.
He was tormented by the bullies.
Rarely used alone; typically appears in compounds like 'hành hạ'.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 'hành' and 'hạnh'
'Hành' (with a sharp tone) refers to scallions or acting, while 'hạnh' (with a heavy tone) relates to happiness (e.g., 'hạnh phúc'). The tones are critical in Vietnamese.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 行 (xìng, 'scallion'), via Sino-Vietnamese. The verb sense derives from the noun via metaphorical extension of 'doing' as 'acting out' in a role.
Usage Notes
The noun sense is the most common in everyday speech. The verb senses are less frequent and often appear in compound forms. In Northern Vietnam, 'hành' typically refers to scallions, while in the South, it may also refer to onions.
Word Breakdown
hành
scallion/act
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh