Did you guys know that I've done a lot of translation work in Vietnam?
Did you guys know that I've done a lot of translation work in Vietnam?

Since my students all know that I speak Vietnamese,
Since my students all know that I speak Vietnamese,

they often ask me to translate Vietnamese words into English.
they often ask me to translate Vietnamese words into English.

Sometimes, they ask me about really easy words that I know off the top of my head.
Sometimes, they ask me about really easy words that I know off the top of my head.

Teacher, what's "cơm" (cooked rice)?
Teacher, what's "cơm" (cooked rice)?

What's "gạo" (uncooked rice).
What's "gạo" (uncooked rice).

What's "lúa" (rice on the stalk)?
What's "lúa" (rice on the stalk)?

Sometimes, they ask me about really strange words that I've never heard before.
Sometimes, they ask me about really strange words that I've never heard before.

Teacher, what's "ngoằn ngoèo?"
Teacher, what's "ngoằn ngoèo?"

And some other times, they ask me about some complicated word in Vietnamese:
And some other times, they ask me about some complicated word in Vietnamese:

Teacher, what's "nông nghiệp bền vững?"
Teacher, what's "nông nghiệp bền vững?"

And when I answer,
And when I answer,

they act all confused, because a word that's complicated in Vietnamse is, you know,
they act all confused, because a word that's complicated in Vietnamse is, you know,

complicated in English, too.
complicated in English, too.

And one final situation is when students ask me about a Vietnamese word that I've known for a long time,
And one final situation is when students ask me about a Vietnamese word that I've known for a long time,

and which I understand very precisely,
and which I understand very precisely,

but which I feel like I still can't translate into English.
but which I feel like I still can't translate into English.

What I mean is that if I translated that word into English according to its exact meaning,
What I mean is that if I translated that word into English according to its exact meaning,

then it would be completely unnatural.
then it would be completely unnatural.

And if I translated according to natural English style,
And if I translated according to natural English style,

then an important nuance of the Vietnamese word would be lost.
then an important nuance of the Vietnamese word would be lost.

What's a guy to do?
What's a guy to do?

I'd like to show you guys a few of these words
I'd like to show you guys a few of these words

so that you guys can learn more about English,
so that you guys can learn more about English,

and about Vietnamese, too.
and about Vietnamese, too.

Lots of people have asked me what "phượt" is in English.
Lots of people have asked me what "phượt" is in English.

I don't know!
I don't know!

Even though I've "phượt-ed" in Hà Giang, Bắc Kạn, Tây Nguyên, and Khánh Hoà,
Even though I've "phượt-ed" in Hà Giang, Bắc Kạn, Tây Nguyên, and Khánh Hoà,

I still don't know how to say "đi phượt" in English.
I still don't know how to say "đi phượt" in English.

"Đi phượt" is an adventurous trip by motorbike,
"Đi phượt" is an adventurous trip by motorbike,

where you eat and sleep on the cheap,
where you eat and sleep on the cheap,

maybe you don't have a fixed schedule,
maybe you don't have a fixed schedule,

and the trip isn't super organized.
and the trip isn't super organized.

So how do you say that in English?
So how do you say that in English?

No, no one says that.
No, no one says that.

No, "trekking" means hiking in the mountains.
No, "trekking" means hiking in the mountains.

No. If you say that, people picture a really long trip on a bike that's big and expensive.
No. If you say that, people picture a really long trip on a bike that's big and expensive.

If I had plans to "đi phượt," and I wanted to let my mom know —
If I had plans to "đi phượt," and I wanted to let my mom know —

Mom, I'm gonna go "phượt-ing" with my friends—
Mom, I'm gonna go "phượt-ing" with my friends—

I'd say:
I'd say:

Not very exact, is it?
Not very exact, is it?

Nevertheless, I don't think there's any better way to say it.
Nevertheless, I don't think there's any better way to say it.

Let's define the word "bánh," okay?
Let's define the word "bánh," okay?

Let's take a look at a few examples, first.
Let's take a look at a few examples, first.

This is "bánh."
This is "bánh."

This is "bánh."
This is "bánh."

And this, too, is "bánh."
And this, too, is "bánh."

So . . . what's "bánh?"
So . . . what's "bánh?"

It's a kind of food made from flour or grains that are kneaded together into a new shape, and then cooked.
It's a kind of food made from flour or grains that are kneaded together into a new shape, and then cooked.

And if we want to say "bánh" in English?
And if we want to say "bánh" in English?

No.
No.

I find it very funny when Vietnamese people use "cake" for every kind of "bánh."
I find it very funny when Vietnamese people use "cake" for every kind of "bánh."

In English, "cake" is just "bánh ga-tô" and varieties similar to it,
In English, "cake" is just "bánh ga-tô" and varieties similar to it,

so this thing is cake,
so this thing is cake,

but this one most certainly is not.
but this one most certainly is not.

The fact is that "bánh" is a type of food that simply doesn't exist in English.
The fact is that "bánh" is a type of food that simply doesn't exist in English.

From the perspective of native speakers,
From the perspective of native speakers,

these two types of "bánh" are two completely different things.
these two types of "bánh" are two completely different things.

To sum up, don't try to translate "bánh cuốn" as "rolled cake,"
To sum up, don't try to translate "bánh cuốn" as "rolled cake,"

or "bánh gối" as "pillow cake."
or "bánh gối" as "pillow cake."

Translating like that doesn't help native speakers understand what you're talking about.
Translating like that doesn't help native speakers understand what you're talking about.

When speaking English, go ahead and call every kind of "bánh" by its Vietnamese name,
When speaking English, go ahead and call every kind of "bánh" by its Vietnamese name,

and if the other person doesn't know what "bánh cuốn" or "bánh gối" is, then show them some pictures,
and if the other person doesn't know what "bánh cuốn" or "bánh gối" is, then show them some pictures,

or better yet, show them first-hand.
or better yet, show them first-hand.

I only encounter the word "tệ nạn" in the phrase "tệ nạn xã hội,"
I only encounter the word "tệ nạn" in the phrase "tệ nạn xã hội,"

and my students always want to translate that phrase as "social evils.
and my students always want to translate that phrase as "social evils.

No. Although that's a very exact way of translating "tẹ nạn xã hội,"
No. Although that's a very exact way of translating "tẹ nạn xã hội,"

no one says "social evils."
no one says "social evils."

It's an extremely old-sounding phrase, like a communist politican's rhetoric in the early 20th century.
It's an extremely old-sounding phrase, like a communist politican's rhetoric in the early 20th century.

For a lot of "tệ nạn xã hội," like prostitution, drug trafficking, and violence,
For a lot of "tệ nạn xã hội," like prostitution, drug trafficking, and violence,

we could just use the word "crimes."
we could just use the word "crimes."

But "crimes" can't entirely replace "tệ nạn xã hội."
But "crimes" can't entirely replace "tệ nạn xã hội."

For example, you guys would agree that alcoholism is a type of "tệ nạn xã hội," right?
For example, you guys would agree that alcoholism is a type of "tệ nạn xã hội," right?

But selling and drinking alcohol isn't illegal, so it's not a crime.
But selling and drinking alcohol isn't illegal, so it's not a crime.

We might call alcoholism a type of social problem, but that phrase can't replace "tệ nạn xã hội", either.
We might call alcoholism a type of social problem, but that phrase can't replace "tệ nạn xã hội", either.

For example, below-standard education in poor areas is another type of social problem,
For example, below-standard education in poor areas is another type of social problem,

but it's not a "tệ nạn xã hội."
but it's not a "tệ nạn xã hội."

So when you guys want to say "tệ nạn xã hội" in English, what should you say?
So when you guys want to say "tệ nạn xã hội" in English, what should you say?

I don't know. You guys have just got to find a different way of expressing it.
I don't know. You guys have just got to find a different way of expressing it.

I know what "đa tình" means.
I know what "đa tình" means.

It describes someone who . . . has a lot of "affection."
It describes someone who . . . has a lot of "affection."

That is, someone who easily has feelings for others, and is easily attracted to others.
That is, someone who easily has feelings for others, and is easily attracted to others.

One time my girlfriend called me "đa tình."
One time my girlfriend called me "đa tình."

But I truly don't know how to say "đa tình" in English.
But I truly don't know how to say "đa tình" in English.

This dictionary translates it as "sentimental."
This dictionary translates it as "sentimental."

No, that word means "maudlin."
No, that word means "maudlin."

Or "amorous."
Or "amorous."

No, that's another old word. Even a lot of native speakers don't know what it means.
No, that's another old word. Even a lot of native speakers don't know what it means.

So what should we say?
So what should we say?

No, that describes people who flirt a lot, but it doesn't really mean they often have feelings for others.
No, that describes people who flirt a lot, but it doesn't really mean they often have feelings for others.

No. Too long, and not natural.
No. Too long, and not natural.

No, that's a bit too strong.
No, that's a bit too strong.

I'm stumped.
I'm stumped.

Do you think the reason Vietnamese has the word "đa tình" and English doesn't
Do you think the reason Vietnamese has the word "đa tình" and English doesn't

is just that Vietnam has more "đa tình" people?
is just that Vietnam has more "đa tình" people?

As I understand, "thương" means something like "love," but carries an additional quality with it.
As I understand, "thương" means something like "love," but carries an additional quality with it.

"Thương" doesn't just mean you love someone,
"Thương" doesn't just mean you love someone,

but that you want to care for them and protect them,
but that you want to care for them and protect them,

and want them to be happy and healthy forever and ever!
and want them to be happy and healthy forever and ever!

So how should we say it in English?
So how should we say it in English?

No, not detailed enough.
No, not detailed enough.

This dictionary translates "thương" as "to love tenderly."
This dictionary translates "thương" as "to love tenderly."

"Anh thương em."
"Anh thương em."

Too cheesy to stand.
Too cheesy to stand.

Maybe we native speakers ought to adopt "thương" into English.
Maybe we native speakers ought to adopt "thương" into English.

We've already adopted lots of foreign words,
We've already adopted lots of foreign words,

such as "noodle" from German,
such as "noodle" from German,

"novel" from Italian.
"novel" from Italian.

and "tycoon" from Japanese.
and "tycoon" from Japanese.

Why not adopt "thương" from Vietnamese, too?
Why not adopt "thương" from Vietnamese, too?

I think we got it!
I think we got it!

No need to translate anymore.
No need to translate anymore.

I still laughed.
I still laughed.

Do it again, do it again.
Do it again, do it again.