Definition

1. Verb:
   • To speak; to talk: To produce words with your voice in order to communicate. This is the most general term for verbal communication.
   • To say; to tell: To express something in words, to state information, or to give an account of something.
   • To pronounce; to have an accent: To articulate words in a particular way.
   • To use (a language): To communicate verbally in a specific language.
   • To criticize; to gossip: To express disapproval or to talk about someone, often in a negative way.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Có phải anh muốn nói tôi không? (Are you speaking to me?)
  • Đứa trẻ mới bắt đầu biết nói. (The child is just beginning to talk.)
  • Cô ấy nói "xin chào". (She said "hello".)
  • Anh ấy nói giọng miền Nam. (He speaks with a Southern accent.)
  • Tôi có thể nói tiếng Anh. (I can speak English.)
  • Mọi người sẽ nói nếu bạn đến muộn. (People will talk if you are late.)

Advanced Usage

• "nói lên": to express, to reveal, to speak up (for something).
  • Hành động của cô ấy nói lên nhiều điều. (Her actions speak volumes.)
• "nói ra": to speak out, to voice (an opinion, a secret).
  • Anh ấy không dám nói ra sự thật. (He didn't dare speak the truth.)
• "nói về": to talk about, to discuss.
  • Chúng tôi đang nói về kế hoạch cho ngày mai. (We are talking about the plan for tomorrow.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nói chuyện (v): to have a conversation, to chat.
  • Họ ngồi nói chuyện cả giờ. (They sat and talked for hours.)
• Nói lại (v): to repeat, to say again; to talk back.
  • Xin hãy nói lại câu đó. (Please repeat that sentence.)
• Nói dối (v): to lie.
  • Đừng bao giờ nói dối. (Never tell a lie.)
• Nói thật (v): to tell the truth.
  • Tôi phải nói thật với bạn. (I must be honest with you.)

Synonyms

• Speak/Talk: to communicate verbally.
• Say/Tell: to express in words.
• State/Declare: to say formally.
• Utter: to make a sound with your voice.
• Pronounce: to make the sound of a word.

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Nói gần nói xa: to beat around the bush, to hint at something indirectly.
  • Anh ấy cứ nói gần nói xa mãi. (He kept beating around the bush.)
• Nói ngon nói ngọt: to use sweet talk, to coax with flattering words.
  • Cô ấy nói ngon nói ngọt để thuyết phục mẹ. (She used sweet talk to persuade her mother.)
• Nói như vẹt: to parrot, to repeat words without understanding.
  • Đừng chỉ học nói như vẹt. (Don't just learn to parrot the words.)
• Nói thật mất lòng: "Honesty hurts feelings" (proverb meaning that telling the truth can offend).
• Ăn nên đọi, nói nên lời: (Proverb) To be successful in speech and action; to speak effectively.
• Khó nói: difficult to say (often due to an awkward situation).
  • Tình huống này thật khó nói. (This situation is hard to talk about.)

verb

1. to speak; to talk; to say; to tell
   • Có phải anh muốn nói tôi không?
     Are you speaking at me