Southern Vietnamese
Vietnamese Idioms and Proverbs
Learn common Vietnamese idioms and proverbs as fixed conversation chunks.
Quick answer
In one sentence
Practice 10 fixed Vietnamese idioms and learn how to use a few naturally.
Day 68 idiom focus
Intro: common idioms and proverbs
Learn fixed phrases that Vietnamese speakers use for effort, learning, family, and community.
Idiom tip
Idioms are fixed phrases. Do not rewrite them word by word.
Effort
Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim
Persistence pays off
Persistence pays off.
Practice
Học đi đôi với hành
Learning goes together with practice
Learning goes with doing.
Community
Một con ngựa đau, cả tàu bỏ cỏ
When one suffers, the whole group cares
One person suffering affects the group.
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Day 68 vocabulary focus
Vocabulary: 10 useful fixed idioms
Listen to the full fixed phrase first, then remember the meaning as one unit.
effort
Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim
Persistence pays off
practice
Học đi đôi với hành
Learning goes together with practice
empathy
Một con ngựa đau, cả tàu bỏ cỏ
When one suffers, the whole group cares
will
Có chí thì nên
Where there is will, there is a way
experience
Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn
Travel broadens the mind
gratitude
Uống nước nhớ nguồn
Remember where you came from
help
Lá lành đùm lá rách
The fortunate help the less fortunate
steady
Chậm mà chắc
Slow but steady
gratitude
Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây
Remember those who helped you
influence
Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng
Your environment influences you
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Day 68 speaking skill
Speaking skill: use idioms in conversation
Introduce an idiom gently and explain what it means.
Explain effort
Câu này có nghĩa là cố gắng sẽ thành công
This sentence means effort will succeed
Personal opinion
Tôi thích câu “Học đi đôi với hành”
I like the saying “Learning goes with practice”
Culture note
Người Việt hay dùng thành ngữ
Vietnamese people often use idioms
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Day 68 grammar focus
Grammar note: idioms are fixed phrases
Treat the whole proverb as one chunk. Do not swap words until you know the idiom well.
Fixed phrase
Thành ngữ là cụm từ cố định
An idiom is a fixed phrase
A fixed expression.
Do not rewrite
Đừng đổi từ trong thành ngữ
Do not change the words in an idiom
Keep the original words.
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Day 68 speaking exercise
Exercise: use 3 idioms in your own sentences
Choose three idioms and make one simple sentence for each.
1
Effort
Tôi sẽ cố gắng vì có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim
I will keep trying because persistence pays off
2
Practice
Tôi học bằng cách thực hành
I learn by practicing
3
Gratitude
Tôi nhớ nguồn gốc của mình
I remember my roots
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The short version
Day 68 introduces idioms as culture-rich fixed phrases.
How to practice today
- Listen to each idiom as one chunk.
- Save the idioms you actually want to reuse.
- Make three simple sentences with your favorite idioms.
Meaning check
Quick practice
How should beginners treat idioms?
FAQ
Should I use all 10 idioms right away?
No. Recognize all 10, then try using only three that fit your own speech.
Finish this lesson
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Mark complete only after you have listened, practiced, and saved at least one useful phrase. Then continue straight to the next task.
Week 10 · Day 68 in the 90-day path
Listen to at least 3 phrases
Use normal audio first, then slow audio.
Save at least 1 phrase
Only save phrases you would actually reuse.
Finish the quiz or practice task
Check that you can recall the idea, not only read it.
Mark this page complete
Completion is manual so you stay in control.
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Practice panel
Keep it useful
Listen, save one useful phrase, then mark this lesson complete.