Vietnamese phrase guide
How to say excuse me in Vietnamese
Xin lỗi means "excuse me" in Vietnamese. Hear pronunciation, learn polite variants, examples, and common mistakes.
Quick answer
In one sentence
To say "excuse me" in Vietnamese, say "Xin lỗi". It is polite attention-getter, and the variants below show how to use it naturally.
- Easy pronunciation: sin loy
- Best use: Use xin lỗi before asking a stranger a question or when passing someone.
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Xin lỗi
excuse me
Literal meaning: ask forgiveness
Easy pronunciation: sin loy
Use xin lỗi before asking a stranger a question or when passing someone.
Pronunciation breakdown
Vietnamese spelling
Xin → xờ in xin
lỗi → lờ ôi lôi ngã lỗi
Useful variants
Cho tôi hỏi
May I ask?
Very useful before a question.
Anh ơi
Excuse me
To call a male staff member.
Chị ơi
Excuse me
To call a female staff member.
Example sentences
Xin lỗi, chợ ở đâu?
Excuse me, where is the market?
Cho tôi hỏi, nhà ga ở đâu?
May I ask, where is the station?
Common mistakes
- Ơi is a calling word, not a direct translation of excuse me.
- Cho tôi hỏi is often smoother before asking for information.
FAQ
Should I say xin lỗi or anh ơi?
Use xin lỗi for a general excuse me. Use anh ơi/chị ơi to call staff politely.
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