The Easy Vietnamese
Most common Vietnamese proverbs used in everyday life
During their lifetimes, our ancestors encountered quite a few challenges that led to a great variety of Vietnamese proverbs. Proverbs conclude our ancestors' life experience and lessons in different areas. Getting to know these proverbs is like taking a peek at our hearts and souls of various Vietnamese generations.
Following is a list of most common Vietnamese proverbs and their meanings that we often use in our daily conversations. They are organised alphabetically for easily memorising (if possible!).

Vietnamese proverbs starting with A
Proverbs | Meanings |
Ác giả ác báo | If you do bad things, you will receive negative consequences. |
Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây | Always remember those that have brought you a good life. |
Ao sâu tốt cá, nước cả cá to | A favorable condition will create people with moral character, great will and desire. |
Ăn chọn nơi, chơi chọn bạn | Be selective in choosing friends for your life. |
Ăn có nhai, nói có nghĩ | You should think while talking, like chewing when eating. |
Ăn kỹ no lâu, cày sâu tốt lúa | Always do things properly to be fruitful in what you are doing. |
Ăn chắc, mặc bền | You should choose a sustainable, long-lasting way in your life. |
Ăn trông nồi, ngồi trông hướng | Always remember to observe things around you before acting. |
Ăn ít no lâu, ăn nhiều chóng đói | You should save little everyday so that you can eat for many days in the future. |
Ăn cùng mâm, nằm cùng chiếu | Always stand by your friends no matter what the situation is. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with B
Proverbs | Meanings |
Bà con xa không bằng láng giềng gần | You should treat your near neighbors well as they may even more helpful than your far relatives. |
Bán anh em xa, mua láng giềng gần | You should treat your near neighbors well as they may even more helpful than your far relatives. |
Bảy mươi chưa què, chớ khoe rằng tốt | In the blink of an eye, a healthy person turns into a cripple because of an unfortunate accident. Hence, be humble in what you are having at the moment. |
Bất học vô thuật | No study, no skills gained. |
Biết thì thưa thốt, không biết thì dựa cột mà nghe | Listen carefully to those that know when you don't. |
Bụng làm dạ chịu | You will get results of what you have done. |
Buôn tàu buôn bè không bằng ăn dè hà tiện | You cannot get rich no matter how big you trade unless you learn to save. |
Bệnh từ miệng vào, hoạ từ miệng ra | Be mindful what you eat in and what you say. |
Bút sa, gà chết | You will get results of what you have done. |
Biết người biết ta, trăm trận trăm thắng | You will win by being self-aware and learning about your competitor. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with C
Proverbs | Meanings |
Cả giận mất khôn | You may lose your wisdom when you are furious. |
Cái khó ló cái khôn | In challenges, you will find ways and gain more wisdom. |
Cái răng, cái tóc là góc con người | Should take care of teeth and hair as they show your beauty and even personalities. |
Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp | A good soul is more than an appealing appearance. |
Cây có cội, nước có nguồn | Everyone has their origins. |
Cây ngay chẳng sợ chết đứng | If you do good things, you should not be nervous and scared. |
Cha mẹ sinh con trời sinh tính | Parents give birth to children, but not able to decide on their personalities, genders, gender orientation etc. |
Chạy trời không khỏi nắng | What comes will come. Cannot resist or run away from them. |
Chị ngã em nâng | Siblings have each other in hard times. |
Có chí thì nên | With great will and actions you will be successful. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with D
Proverbs | Meanings |
Đánh bạc quen tay, ngủ ngày quen mắt | Should avoid doing bad things as they may become bad habits. |
Đất có lề, quê có thói | When going to any local, we must understand and respect their laws and customs to behave accordingly. |
Đi đêm lắm có ngày gặp ma | If you do bad things, you will receive negative consequences. |
Đi hỏi già, về nhà hỏi trẻ | Should ask from elderlies life experiences because elderlies are very experienced and ask from children for things happening in the house because children are honest. |
Đi một ngày đàng học một sàng khôn | Should go out, travel and experience things as this helps you learn much more. |
Điếc không sợ súng | Those have not experienced certain fears have no idea how to be fearful. |
Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm | Always do good and ethical things regardless of the situations you are in. |
Đời cha ăn mặn, đời con khát nước | Things you are doing can affect your children's life. |
Đồng tiền liền khúc ruột | Ordinary people attach great importance to money, sometimes more than their body. |
Đời cha trồng cây, đời con ăn quả | Things you are doing can affect your children's life. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with E
Proverbs | Meanings |
Én bay cao mưa rào lại tạnh | Rain will be over when the swallows fly high. |
Ép dầu ép mỡ, ai nỡ ép duyên | Love cannot be forced. |
Ếch kêu uôm uôm, ao chuôm đầy nước | It rains heavily when frogs croak. |
Em khôn cũng là em chị, chị dại cũng là chị em | Siblings are always siblings no matter what. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with G
Proverbs | Meanings |
Gái có công chồng chẳng phụ | A hardworking and caring wife makes her husband respect and love more. |
Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng | Be selective with who you surround and befriend with. |
Giàu vì bạn, sang vì vợ | You are richer when hanging out with right friends, and are much posher because of your good wife. |
Giặc đến nhà, đàn bà cũng đánh | Women must know how to fight like men for any possible conflicts and wars. |
Giấy rách phải giữ lấy lề | No matter how poor or desperate you are, you still have to maintain your traditional values. |
Góp gió thành bão | Small savings today will accumulate to a rich life tomorrow. Small effort everyday will contribute to a big success in the future. |
Gió thổi đổi trời | Wind blows and then weather changes. Be prepare and watch out to the changes of weather. |
Gái một con trông mòn con mắt | A woman after giving birth (especially after her first pregnancy) will often be young and beautiful, with a smooth skin and more caring personality. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with H
Proverbs | Meanings |
Hay ăn thì lăn vào bếp | You get to work yourself to earn. |
Học thầy không tày học bạn | You may learn much more from your peers than teachers. |
Hổ phụ sinh hổ tử | A talented child inherits from a talented parent. |
Hổ dữ không ăn thịt con | No parents will hurt their children. |
Hương năng thắp năng khói, người năng nói năng lỗ | Everything in moderation does not cause harm, and therefore does not make mistakes. |
Hay ở, dở đi | Stay at good places, leave bad ones. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with K
Proverbs | Meanings |
Khéo ăn thì no, khéo co thì ấm | Should know how to arrange your life to always have an adequate and good conditions. |
Không có lửa sao có khói | Everything happens for a reason. |
Khôn đâu đến trẻ, khỏe đâu đến già | Young people are not wise, old people are not healthy. |
Kiếm củi ba năm thiêu một giờ | Should learn to save or you will use up all your assets. |
Kiến tha lâu cũng đầy tổ | Small savings today will accumulate to a rich life tomorrow. Small effort everyday will contribute to a big success in the future. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with L
Proverbs | Meanings |
Lá rụng về cội | The life cycle of humans is always the same. |
Làm khi lành để dành khi đau | Work hard when you can, so you can rest when you need to. |
Lấy vợ xem tông, lấy chồng xem giống | Should learn about the background and families of partners before tying the knots. |
Liệu cơm gắp mắm | We should live accordingly to the conditions we are in. |
Lời chào cao hơn mâm cỗ | Always remember to greet properly. |
Lửa gần rơm lâu ngày cũng bén | A love sooner or later will occur between a man and a woman who stay close to each other. |
Lửa thử vàng, gian nan thử sức | Challenges expose your abilities. |
Lá lành đùm lá rách | Remember to help people that are in need. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with M
Proverbs | Meanings |
Máu chảy ruột mềm | People with same blood can feel the pains of each other. |
Mất lòng trước, được lòng sau | Should be straightforward from the beginning for good in the future. |
Mật ngọt chết ruồi | The truths are not sweet. |
Miếng ngon nhớ lâu, lời đau nhớ đời | Be careful when you say anything, because harsh words cause pain, and torment and hatred forever. |
Môi hở răng lạnh | People with same blood should care about and help each other. |
Mồm miệng đỡ chân tay | Well-spoken people always have more advantages. |
Một câu nhịn, chín câu lành | Be patient, humble a little to achieve good long-term results. |
Một con ngựa đau cả tàu bỏ cỏ | Live with meaningful love, mutual affection, mutual help for a mutual development. |
Một miếng khi đói bằng một gói khi no | Helping in times of need is more valuable than giving when they are full (rich). |
Mưu cao chẳng bằng chí dày | A strong will is better than a good plan. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with N
Proverbs | Meanings |
Nắng tốt dưa, mưa tốt lúa | Sun is good for cucumber, rain is good for rice (farming experience). |
Người chửa cửa mả | Giving birth is a life-threatening incident. |
Người đẹp vì lụa, lúa tốt vì phân | Wearing good clothes beautifies your look. |
Người làm nên của, của không làm nên người | Humans create wealth, wealth cannot create humans. |
Nhà sạch thì mát, bát sạch ngon cơm | Clean house brings good living experience, clean bowl helps you eat more deliciously. |
Nhân vô thập toàn | People are not perfect. |
Nhất nước, nhì phân, tam cần, tứ giống | Priorities of farming are water, fertiliser, care and seeds. |
Nói có sách, mách có chứng | Always tell with references and proofs and not with assumptions. |
Nước chảy đá mòn | A natural fact but also an advice to be patient to get the results. |
Nồi nào ấp vung đó | You get what you deserve. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with O
Proverbs | Meanings |
Ôm rơm rặm bụng | If you take on a lot of things, especially things that are not important, you will end up getting into trouble and distractions. |
Ở bầu thì tròn, ở ống thì dài | Should adapt to the surrounded environments, e.g. to the culture of a local. |
Ở chọn nơi, chơi chọn bạn | Be selective in choosing where to live and who to befriend with. |
Ở hiền gặp lành | If you are decent and kind in your life, you will have a good life. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with Q
Proverbs | Meanings |
Quạ tắm thì ráo, sáo tắm thì mưa | When it's raining and you see crows bathing, the rain is going to stop. When it's sunny and you see the flute bathing, it's going to rain (life experience). |
Quen mặt đắt hàng | Once you know each other, it's easy to buy and sell. |
Qua giêng hết năm, qua rằm hết tháng | Time flies. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with R
Proverbs | Meanings |
Ráng mỡ gà thì gió, ráng mỡ chó thì mưa | If clous are as yellow as chicken fat, it is about to have a strong wind. If clouds are as pink as dog fat, there will be heavy rain. |
Rau nào sâu ấy | Children take after their parents. |
Ruộng bề bề không bằng nghề trong tay | No matter how much assets you have, you should find for yourself a skill to live by. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with S
Proverbs | Meanings |
Sai con toán, bán con trâu | Should consider carefully when doing anything. |
Sông có khúc, người có lúc | A fact of life is that people can change with time. |
Sông lở cát bồi | Life sometimes goes down and up at other times. A normal fact of life. |
Sống để dạ chết mang theo | Keep something hidden, bury it in your heart, never reveal it for the rest of your life. |
Vietnamese proverbs starting with T
Proverbs |