Definition

Pronoun (Informal, Northern Vietnamese dialect): 1. I, me (used by a male speaker): A first-person singular pronoun used by men, often conveying a sense of familiarity, casualness, or slight emphasis on the speaker. It is equivalent to "I" or "me" in English but carries a specific regional and gender nuance.

Usage

• This word is used exclusively by male speakers.
• It is characteristic of Northern Vietnamese speech.
• It is used in informal, colloquial contexts among friends, peers, or in casual conversation. It is not used in formal writing or speech.
• It functions grammatically exactly like the standard pronoun "tôi" (I/me) but adds a layer of casual, masculine identity.

Usage Examples

• Đằng này vừa mới gọi dây nói cho cậu đấy. (I've just rung up for you, old boy.)
• Đằng này không biết gì về chuyện đó cả. (I don't know anything about that matter.)
• Có gì khó cứ bảo đằng này. (If there's anything difficult, just tell me.)

Advanced Usage / Nuance

• The word can sometimes imply a slight contrast or emphasis, positioning the speaker in relation to others ("as for me..." or "well, I..."). This nuance comes from the original meaning of "đằng" (side/direction).
  • Mọi người đều đồng ý. Đằng này thì chưa. (Everyone agreed. As for me, not yet.)
• It is part of a set of informal pronouns: đằng này (I - male), đằng ấy (you - male), con này (I - female, less common).

Variants and Related Words

• Tôi: The standard, neutral first-person singular pronoun for both genders (I/me).
• Tao: A very informal and non-polite first-person singular pronoun (I/me), used only with very close friends or in confrontational contexts. It lacks the specific regional/gender marking of "đằng này".
• Mình: Can mean "I/me" in an intimate or poetic context, or "we/us" in an inclusive sense.

Synonyms

• Tôi (I/me - standard, neutral)
• Tao (I/me - very informal, can be impolite)

Related Phrases / Patterns

• Đằng này... đằng ấy...: A correlative structure meaning "I... you...".
  • Đằng này lo, đằng ấy chơi. Thế có công bằng không? (I worry, you play. Is that fair?)

1. (thân)I, me
   • Đằng này vừa mới gọi dây nói cho cậu đấy
     I've just rung up for you, old boy