cảm ơn

Thank You

Level 1

Cảm ơn is the standard way to say "thank you" in Vietnamese. Unlike in English, it acts as a verb that needs an object (the person you are thanking).

How It Works

The word cảm ơn comes from the Sino-Vietnamese root cảm ("to feel or appreciate") and ơn ("grace or favor"), which is a nativized pronunciation of the Sino-Vietnamese root ân. The basic structure for thanking someone is:

[Subject] + cảm ơn + [Object Pronoun] + [Particle]

  • Using Pronouns: While the subject (I) is often dropped, keeping the subject pronoun (e.g., Em cảm ơn anh) is the standard way to make the phrase more polite, personal, and sincere. Adding a kinship pronoun based on age and gender (acting as "you") right after the verb is also standard for politeness (e.g., Cảm ơn anh - Thank you).
  • Adding Particles: You can attach final particles to adjust the tone. Add nhé or nha to make it friendly, or add ạ to make it highly respectful for elders. When doing this, it is common to open the sentence with the polite particle Dạ (e.g., Dạ, em cảm ơn ạ - Thank you respectfully).
  • Thank You Very Much: Add nhiều or rất nhiều at the end (e.g., Cảm ơn chị nhiều - Thank you very much).
  • Thank You For...: Use vì or vì đã followed by the action. In casual speech, native speakers frequently drop "vì" entirely, just using đã + [action] (e.g., Cảm ơn anh đã giúp - Thank you for helping).
  • Formal Situations: Add Xin before the phrase (Xin cảm ơn - Thank you) for formal contexts like public speaking or customer service.
  • Replying: The standard reply to "cảm ơn" is Không có gì (You're welcome / It's nothing). You will also hear Không có chi (Central/South) and Có gì đâu (conversational).

Note on Pronunciation: You will frequently hear and see cám ơn. This is a perfectly valid, widely accepted regional pronunciation (especially in the South).

Examples (4)

  1. Cảm ơn anh!

    Thank you! (Addressed to a slightly older male)

    Word by Word: Thank older brother

    A standard, polite way to thank a male who is slightly older than you.

  2. Em cảm ơn cô ạ.

    Thank you. (Highly polite; addressed to a female teacher or older woman)

    Word by Word: Younger sibling thank aunt polite-particle

    Includes the subject 'em', the object 'cô', and the respect particle 'ạ' for maximum politeness.

  3. Cảm ơn nhiều nhé!

    Thanks a lot! (Friendly and casual)

    Word by Word: Thank much soft-particle

    Uses 'nhiều' (a lot) and the softening particle 'nhé' for a warm, casual tone among friends.

  4. Xin cảm ơn quý khách.

    Thank you, valued customers.

    Word by Word: Beg thank valued guest

    A formal register used in business or announcements, elevated by the word 'xin'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a "bare" cảm ơn with elders

    Cảm ơn.
    Cháu cảm ơn bác ạ.

    Because English speakers treat "Thank you" as a standalone phrase, learners frequently say just "Cảm ơn". While acceptable in quick, casual contexts, a bare "cảm ơn" can sound abrupt and is perceived as disrespectful if spoken to an elder without a pronoun or polite particle.

  • Using 'bạn' to thank an older person.

    Cảm ơn bạn.
    Cảm ơn anh. / Cảm ơn chị.

    Learners often default to "Cảm ơn bạn" (Thank you, friend) for everyone. It is correct with peers, but "bạn" should not be used with older people. Using it with older individuals ignores the standard age and status hierarchy of Vietnamese pronouns.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

cảm ơnLevel 1Thank You

Learn This First

To use 'cảm ơn' correctly, you need to understand how Vietnamese speakers use kinship terms as pronouns, as the person being thanked is typically named immediately after the verb to maintain politeness and clarity.

Words in This Pattern