Vietnamese Grammar Bank
PERCEPTION VERBS IN VIETNAMESE
In both English and Vietnamese, we use perception verbs to describe how we experience the world through our senses. These verbs help us express what we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
In this lesson, we will explore how to use perception verbs in Vietnamese to talk about sensory experiences.
TÔI THẤY… = I SEE…
The verb “thấy” is used to indicate “I see” or “I perceive” visually or physical things:
PATTERN
Subject + thấy + noun
Examples:
| Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh | I see yellow flowers on green grass. |
| Anh thấy em không? | Do you see me? |
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| Em thấy có rất nhiều chim trên trời | I see many birds in the sky. |
| Tôi thấy con chó đang chạy | I see a dog running. |
| Em thấy mặt trời | I see the sun. |
| Chúng tôi thấy nụ cười của em | We see your smile. |
TÔI NGHE… = I HEAR…
The verb “nghe” is used for hearing sounds or noises or information which is not official.
PATTERN
Subject + nghe + noun/clause
For examples:
| Tôi đang nghe nhạc | I am listening to music. |
| Tôi nghe tiếng suối chảy | I hear the sound of a flowing stream. |
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| Tôi nghe bạn nói chuyện | I hear you talking. |
| Anh nghe tôi nói không? | Do you hear me? |
| Chúng tôi nghe bạn sắp đám cưới | We hear that you are getting married. |
| Tôi nghe anh ấy sắp chuyển việc | I hear that he is about to change jobs. |
TÔI NGỬI THẤY…= I SMELL…
The verb “ngửi thấy” is used to express smelling something, typically with the nose or sense the characteristics of things.
PATTERN
Subject + ngửi thấy + noun
For example:
| Tôi ngửi thấy mùi hoa hồng | I smell roses. |
| Tôi ngửi thấy gà chiên | I smell fried chicken. |
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| Tôi ngửi thấy mùi thuốc lá | I smell cigarette smoke. |
| Tôi ngửi thấy mùi cafe | I smell coffee. |
| Tôi ngửi thấy mùi nguy hiểm | I smell danger. |
| Tôi ngửi thấy mùi không ổn | I smell something off. |
TÔI NẾM THẤY…= I TASTE…
The verb “nếm thấy” is used to describe tasting food or drinks
PATTERN
Subject + nếm thấy + noun/adjective
For example:
| Tôi nếm thấy vị cay | I taste spiciness. |
| Tôi nếm thấy vị mặn | I taste saltiness. |
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| Tôi nếm thấy vị chua | I taste sourness. |
| Tôi nếm thấy ngọt | I taste sweetness. |
| Tôi nếm thấy đắng | I taste bitterness. |
| Tôi nếm thấy đậm đà | I taste richness. |
TÔI CẢM THẤY…= I FEEL…
The verb “cảm thấy” is used for feelings or physical sensations. It can be used for emotional and sensory perceptions.
PATTERN
Subject + cảm thấy + noun/adjective
For example:
| Tôi cảm thấy rất vui hôm nay | I feel very happy today. |
| Tôi cảm thấy lạnh quá | I feel so cold. |
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| Tôi cảm thấy mệt và buồn ngủ | I feel tired and sleepy. |
| Tôi cảm thấy an toàn và yên bình | I feel safe and peaceful. |
| Tôi cảm thấy lo lắng | I feel worried. |
| Tôi cảm thấy hạnh phúc | I feel happy. |
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FAQs
What are the most common perception verbs in Vietnamese?
Some of the most common ones include: nghe (to hear), nhìn (to see/look), ngửi (to smell), nếm (to taste), cảm thấy (to feel), and trông có vẻ (to look like/seem).
Can perception verbs be used with both physical and emotional experiences?
Yes. For example, cảm thấy can be used to express physical sensations (cảm thấy lạnh – feel cold) or emotions (cảm thấy buồn – feel sad).
How do I say something “looks/smells/tastes good” in Vietnamese?
You can use structures like: trông ngon, ngửi thơm, or nếm rất ngon to express these ideas.
Are there grammar rules when using these verbs with adjectives?
Yes. Often, these verbs are directly followed by an adjective. For instance, nghe hay (sounds good), trông đẹp (looks pretty), nếm lạ (tastes strange).
What is the difference between “trông”, “nhìn”, and “thấy”?
Trông and nhìn imply deliberate looking (active perception).
Thấy can be more passive (you noticed something or it came into your perception).
E.g. Tôi thấy anh ấy ngoài đường (I saw him on the street).
Can I study in Vietnam with LTL?
Yes, you can!
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