By Juan Inoriza
Introduction
Language is a living organism, constantly evolving in tandem with societal transformations. In Vietnam, this evolution is especially striking when observing the shift in idiomatic expressions and proverbs. As the country transitioned from a predominantly rural society to an urban and digitally connected nation, the way people speak, particularly in colloquial and generational contexts, has undergone a dramatic shift. This essay explores the metamorphosis of Vietnamese expressions, from those rooted in Confucian morality and agricultural life to contemporary slang shaped by urbanisation, generational change, and technological innovation. It also examines the layered impact of economic modernisation, educational reform, and the linguistic creativity of internet culture.
1. From Morality to Irony: Proverbs with Eroded Ethical Foundations
Traditional Vietnamese culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values, relied on proverbs (tục ngữu, ca dao) to transmit moral teachings and social expectations. These expressions often drew on rural life, family structures, and hierarchical relationships. For example:
- “Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim” (With effort, iron becomes a needle) emphasized patience and hard work.
- “Tiên học lễ, hậu học văn” (First learn manners, then learn literature) reinforced the primacy of moral education.
Today, these expressions are still taught in schools but are often received with ambivalence by younger generations. They are sometimes satirised or adapted in memes and digital contexts:
- “Có công thả thính, có ngày dính crush” (With enough flirting, you’ll catch your crush) turns a moral lesson into a playful social media joke.
This shift from reverence to parody illustrates a broader generational rethinking of authority, tradition, and the role of language in shaping identity.
2. From Rice Fields to City Streets: Expressions Shaped by Urbanisation
Vietnam’s rapid urbanisation since the Đổi Mới reforms has created new environments and lifestyles, reflected in linguistic changes. Once agrarian metaphors are now either obsolete or recontextualised:
- “Một nắng hai sương” (One sun, two dews) — once praising farming hardships — is rarely used among urban youth.
- “Cày sâu cuốc bẫm” (Plough deep, hoe well) has been reborn as:
- “Cày view” (grinding for YouTube views)
- “Cày game” (gaming for hours to level up)
A set of colourful idioms also captures urban realities and dating culture:
- “Cua gái” (to pursue/woo a girl), or extended playfully into:
- “Cần câu cá xịn để cua gái xinh” (You need a good fishing rod to catch a beautiful girl).
- “Xinh như cá mắc câu” (Pretty like a fish caught on a hook)
- “Xinh của cần câu” (Beauty of the fishing rod)
These expressions illustrate how rural metaphors adapt to urban youth language, often with humour and innuendo.
3. The Digital Lexicon: Payment Shifts and Tech Slang
As Vietnam embraces cashless transactions and e-commerce, new expressions have emerged to reflect digital realities:
- “Cháy túi” (burnt pocket) — from literal poverty to overspending via shopping apps.
- “Tôi cháy túi rồi” (I’m broke)
- “Tôi nghèo rớt mồng tơi” (I’m dirt poor)
- “Nghèo như chuột” (Poor as a mouse)
- “Không có một xu dính túi” (I don’t have a single coin in my pocket)
- “Ví điện tử chạm đáy” (E-wallet hits bottom) — a newer expression mirroring empty accounts.
- “Quẹt mã” (scan the QR code) — once a transactional act, now used in playful phrases:
- “Tình yêu không quẹt được mã đâu nha!” (Love can’t be scanned with a QR code!)
These changes show how language captures economic shifts, consumer culture, and humour within the tech boom.
4. Generational Shifts: Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z
Each generation in Vietnam exhibits a distinct linguistic fingerprint. Baby Boomers and Gen X often use proverbs linked to endurance and moral duty:
- “Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn” (A day of travel teaches a basket of wisdom)
Millennials (Gen Y), shaped by both pre-internet and internet eras, blend traditional phrases with playful language.
Gen Z, raised in a fully digital world, uses abbreviations, emojis, phonetic distortions, and English borrowings. They gravitate toward:
- “Bó tay” (tied hands) — meaning helplessness or disbelief
- “Bó tay chấm com!” (I totally give up — like “I’m done dot com”)
- “Gà mờ” (blind chicken) — slang for being clueless
- “Thả thính” (drop bait) — for flirtation
- “Sống ảo” (virtual life) — referring to inauthentic social media personas
These generational differences are not only linguistic but also ideological, reflecting shifts in attitudes toward authority, self-expression, and social norms.
5. Educational Recontextualisation: From Authority to Accessibility
Vietnam’s education system once treated language as a vehicle for moral training. Proverbs were memorised and repeated to instil values. However, with the diversification of media and more progressive pedagogies, students today question, remix, or reinterpret these sayings.
- “Con hư tại mẹ” (A spoiled child is the mother’s fault) is increasingly criticised for its gender bias and seen as outdated.
At the same time, many students use these proverbs creatively in essays, debates, or online content, breathing new life into them while stripping them of their dogmatic connotations.
6. The Influence of Internet Culture: Memes, Typing Styles, and Phonetics
Internet language in Vietnam includes intentional misspellings (to mimic childish pronunciation), emoji combinations, and meme phrases. For instance:
- “Chống chống” (fan blades) used instead of “chồng” (husband), playing with tone and script.
- “Vjp pro” — a stylised spelling of “VIP pro”, mocking self-glorification
These expressions reflect creativity, irony, and a sense of collective humour. They are ephemeral, constantly evolving, and heavily context-dependent.
Conclusion
Vietnamese expressions and idioms are dynamic mirrors of the nation’s socio-cultural evolution. From Confucian moral proverbs to social media catchphrases, from rice paddies to QR codes, the language reflects a broader narrative of Vietnam’s journey into modernity. As Vietnam continues to urbanise and digitise, new expressions will emerge, and older ones will either fade, evolve, or be playfully repurposed by younger generations.
Language in Vietnam is not merely a means of communication; it is a reflection of cultural identity, a battleground of values, and a playground of imagination. The development of expressions, proverbs, and slang provides not only linguistic insights but also a vivid portrayal of how Vietnam perceives itself, past, present, and future.
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