Question
Bạn làm gì?
What do you do?
Ask what someone does.
Southern Vietnamese
Vietnamese Work Phrases
Basic workplace phrases for meetings and tasks.
Day 29 work focus
Intro: jobs
Learn job words and two natural frames for saying what someone does.
Work tip
Làm gì? means What do you do for work?
Identity
Tôi là lập trình viên
I am a programmer
Use Tôi là + job.
Work field
Tôi làm kinh doanh
I work in business
Use Tôi làm + field or role.
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Day 29 vocabulary focus
Vocabulary: 10 common jobs
Play each job word, repeat once, then save the jobs you need for your life.
Student
Học sinh
School student
Usually a student in primary or secondary school.
Student
Sinh viên
University student
Usually a college or university student.
Education
Giáo viên
Teacher
A general word for teacher.
Health
Bác sĩ
Doctor
Medical doctor.
Technical
Kỹ sư
Engineer
A general word for engineer.
Technical
Lập trình viên
Programmer
A programmer or developer.
Business
Kinh doanh
Business / doing business
Can describe business work or sales/business activity.
Home
Nội trợ
Homemaker
Household or homemaker role.
Agriculture
Nông dân
Farmer
A farmer.
Worker
Công nhân
Worker / factory worker
Often used for factory or manual workers.
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Day 29 speaking skill
Speaking skill: introduce your job
Ask one work question, then answer with a short job sentence.
Ask
Bạn làm gì?
What do you do?
Teacher
Tôi là giáo viên
I am a teacher
Programmer
Tôi là lập trình viên
I am a programmer
Business
Tôi làm kinh doanh
I work in business
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Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 29 grammar focus
Grammar note: Tôi là + job / Tôi làm + job
Use Tôi là for identity or role. Use Tôi làm for the work you do or field you work in.
Tôi là + giáo viên
Tôi là giáo viên
Use là to state identity or role.
Tôi là + lập trình viên
Tôi là lập trình viên
Swap in your job after Tôi là.
Tôi làm + kinh doanh
Tôi làm kinh doanh
Use làm for what work you do.
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Day 29 speaking exercise
Exercise: introduce 4 jobs
Say your job or student role, then introduce three people you know.
1
Your job
Tôi là lập trình viên
I am a programmer
2
One male person
Anh ấy là bác sĩ
He is a doctor
3
One female person
Chị ấy là kỹ sư
She is an engineer
4
One friend
Bạn tôi là sinh viên
My friend is a university student
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Day 84 career focus
Review topic: work and career
Connect applying, interviewing, contracts, promotion, and quitting.
Career tip
Xin việc means apply for a job; nhận việc means get the job.
I am applying for a job
Tôi đang xin việc
I am applying for a job
I have an interview
Tôi có một buổi phỏng vấn
I have an interview
I want to develop my career
Tôi muốn phát triển sự nghiệp
I want to develop my career
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Day 84 vocabulary focus
Vocabulary: apply, CV, interview, get the job, probation, contract, promotion, quit, startup
Save career chunks you can reuse.
apply for a job
xin việc
apply for a job
CV / resume
CV
CV / resume
interview
phỏng vấn
interview
get the job
nhận việc
get the job
probation
thử việc
probation
sign a contract
ký hợp đồng
sign a contract
promotion
thăng chức
promotion
quit work
nghỉ việc
quit work
startup
startup
startup
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Day 84 speaking skill
Speaking skill: talk about career naturally
Use already/done and want-to frames.
I already sent my CV
Tôi đã gửi CV
I already sent my CV
I got the job
Tôi được nhận việc
I got the job
I want to be promoted
Tôi muốn được thăng chức
I want to be promoted
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Day 84 grammar review
Grammar review: work conditionals
Make job decisions with nếu...thì.
If I get the job, I will sign the contract
Nếu tôi được nhận việc thì tôi sẽ ký hợp đồng
If I get the job, I will sign the contract
If the job fits, I will work long-term
Nếu công việc phù hợp thì tôi sẽ làm lâu dài
If the job fits, I will work long-term
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Day 84 exercise
Exercise: 5-minute job interview roleplay
Use introduction, experience, condition, and closing.
1
Hello, I came for an interview
Xin chào, tôi đến để phỏng vấn
Hello, I came for an interview
2
I have suitable experience and skills
Tôi có kinh nghiệm và kỹ năng phù hợp
I have suitable experience and skills
3
If I get the job, I will do my best
Nếu được nhận việc, tôi sẽ cố gắng
If I get the job, I will do my best
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Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
All phrases
Play normal audio first, then slow audio, then save only the phrases you will actually need.
Học sinh
School student
Usually a student in primary or secondary school.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Học hoc heavy Drop the voice low and short. sinh sinh level Keep the voice steady and level.
Sinh viên
University student
Usually a college or university student.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Sinh sinh level Keep the voice steady and level. viên vien level Keep the final n short.
Giáo viên
Teacher
A general word for teacher.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Giáo giao rising Lift the voice upward. viên vien level Keep the final n short.
Bác sĩ
Doctor
Medical doctor.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bác bac rising Lift the voice upward. sĩ si broken Use a short broken rise.
Kỹ sư
Engineer
A general word for engineer.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Kỹ ky broken Use a short broken rise. sư su level Keep the voice steady and level.
Lập trình viên
Programmer
A programmer or developer.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Lập lap heavy Drop the voice low and short. trình trinh falling Let the voice fall gently. viên vien level Keep the final n short.
Kinh doanh
Business / doing business
Can describe business work or sales/business activity.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Kinh kinh level Keep the voice steady and level. doanh doanh level Keep the voice steady and level.
Nội trợ
Homemaker
Household or homemaker role.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nội noi heavy Drop the voice low and short. trợ tro heavy Drop the voice low and short.
Nông dân
Farmer
A farmer.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nông nong level Keep the voice steady and level. dân dan level Keep the final n short.
Công nhân
Worker / factory worker
Often used for factory or manual workers.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Công cong level Keep the voice steady and level. nhân nhan level Keep the final n short.
Tôi là giáo viên
I am a teacher
Use Tôi là + job for identity.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. là la falling Let the voice fall gently. giáo giao rising Lift the voice upward. viên vien level Keep the final n short.
Tôi là lập trình viên
I am a programmer
Swap the job after Tôi là.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. là la falling Let the voice fall gently. lập lap heavy Drop the voice low and short. trình trinh falling Let the voice fall gently. viên vien level Keep the final n short.
Tôi làm kinh doanh
I work in business
Use Tôi làm + work field or work role.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. làm lam falling Let the voice fall gently. kinh kinh level Keep the voice steady and level. doanh doanh level Keep the voice steady and level.
Bạn làm gì?
What do you do?
A simple work question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bạn ban heavy Keep the final n short. làm lam falling Let the voice fall gently. gì gi falling Let the voice fall gently.
Anh ấy là bác sĩ
He is a doctor
Introduce someone else's job.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Anh anh level Keep the voice steady and level. ấy ay rising Lift the voice upward. là la falling Let the voice fall gently. bác bac rising Lift the voice upward. sĩ si broken Use a short broken rise.
Chị ấy là kỹ sư
She is an engineer
Use chị ấy for she or an older female.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Chị chi heavy Drop the voice low and short. ấy ay rising Lift the voice upward. là la falling Let the voice fall gently. kỹ ky broken Use a short broken rise. sư su level Keep the voice steady and level.
Bạn tôi là sinh viên
My friend is a university student
A useful sentence for talking about someone you know.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bạn ban heavy Keep the final n short. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. là la falling Let the voice fall gently. sinh sinh level Keep the voice steady and level. viên vien level Keep the final n short.
Tôi có cuộc họp
I have a meeting
Office schedule phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. có co rising Lift the voice upward. cuộc cuoc heavy Drop the voice low and short. họp hop heavy Drop the voice low and short.
Gửi email cho tôi
Send me an email
Work request.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Gửi gui dipping Dip slightly, then recover. email email level Keep the voice steady and level. cho cho level Keep the voice steady and level. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level.
Tôi sẽ kiểm tra
I will check
Useful response.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. sẽ se broken Use a short broken rise. kiểm kiem dipping Dip slightly, then recover. tra tra level Keep the voice steady and level.
Hôm nay bận không?
Are you busy today?
Casual workplace question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Hôm hom level Keep the voice steady and level. nay nay level Keep the voice steady and level. bận ban heavy Keep the final n short. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Tôi cần thêm thời gian
I need more time
Polite task update.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. cần can falling Keep the final n short. thêm them level Keep the voice steady and level. thời thoi falling Let the voice fall gently. gian gian level Keep the final n short.
Làm xong rồi
It is done
Short status update.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Làm lam falling Let the voice fall gently. xong xong level Keep the voice steady and level. rồi roi falling Let the voice fall gently.
Tôi muốn hỏi về nhiệm vụ này
I want to ask about this task
Use this to open a this task conversation.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. muốn muon rising Keep the final n short. hỏi hoi dipping Dip slightly, then recover. về ve falling Let the voice fall gently. nhiệm nhiem heavy Drop the voice low and short. vụ vu heavy Drop the voice low and short. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently.
Bạn giúp tôi về nhiệm vụ này được không?
Can you help me with this task?
A polite help request.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bạn ban heavy Keep the final n short. giúp giup rising Lift the voice upward. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. về ve falling Let the voice fall gently. nhiệm nhiem heavy Drop the voice low and short. vụ vu heavy Drop the voice low and short. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Tôi chưa hiểu phần này
I do not understand this part yet
Use this when details are unclear.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. chưa chua level Keep the voice steady and level. hiểu hieu dipping Dip slightly, then recover. phần phan falling Keep the final n short. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently.
Nói lại giúp tôi được không?
Can you repeat that for me?
Useful when the answer is too fast.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nói noi rising Lift the voice upward. lại lai heavy Drop the voice low and short. giúp giup rising Lift the voice upward. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Viết ra giúp tôi được không?
Can you write it down for me?
Helpful for names, prices, and addresses.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Viết viet rising Lift the voice upward. ra ra level Keep the voice steady and level. giúp giup rising Lift the voice upward. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Cái này nghĩa là gì?
What does this mean?
Use while pointing at a form, sign, or message.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. nghĩa nghia broken Start with the back-of-mouth ng sound. là la falling Let the voice fall gently. gì gi falling Let the voice fall gently.
Tôi cần thêm thông tin
I need more information
Keeps the conversation moving.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. cần can falling Keep the final n short. thêm them level Keep the voice steady and level. thông thong level Keep the voice steady and level. tin tin level Keep the final n short.
Khi nào xong?
When will it be finished?
Ask for timing clearly.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Khi khi level Keep the voice steady and level. nào nao falling Let the voice fall gently. xong xong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is it?
Use for prices, fees, and services.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. tiền tien falling Keep the final n short.
xin việc
apply for a job
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
xin xin level Keep the final n short. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short.
CV
CV / resume
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CV cv level Keep the voice steady and level.
phỏng vấn
interview
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
phỏng phong dipping Dip slightly, then recover. vấn van rising Keep the final n short.
nhận việc
get the job
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
nhận nhan heavy Keep the final n short. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short.
thử việc
probation
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
thử thu dipping Dip slightly, then recover. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short.
ký hợp đồng
sign a contract
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ký ky rising Lift the voice upward. hợp hop heavy Drop the voice low and short. đồng dong falling Đ starts like English d; do not say z.
thăng chức
promotion
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
thăng thang level Keep the voice steady and level. chức chuc rising Lift the voice upward.
nghỉ việc
quit work
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
nghỉ nghi dipping Start with the back-of-mouth ng sound. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short.
startup
startup
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
startup startup level Keep the voice steady and level.
Tôi đang xin việc
I am applying for a job
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. đang dang level Đ starts like English d; do not say z. xin xin level Keep the final n short. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short.
Tôi có một buổi phỏng vấn
I have an interview
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. có co rising Lift the voice upward. một mot heavy Drop the voice low and short. buổi buoi dipping Dip slightly, then recover. phỏng phong dipping Dip slightly, then recover. vấn van rising Keep the final n short.
Tôi muốn phát triển sự nghiệp
I want to develop my career
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. muốn muon rising Keep the final n short. phát phat rising Lift the voice upward. triển trien dipping Keep the final n short. sự su heavy Drop the voice low and short. nghiệp nghiep heavy Start with the back-of-mouth ng sound.
Tôi đã gửi CV
I already sent my CV
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. đã da broken Đ starts like English d; do not say z. gửi gui dipping Dip slightly, then recover. CV cv level Keep the voice steady and level.
Tôi được nhận việc
I got the job
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. nhận nhan heavy Keep the final n short. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short.
Tôi muốn được thăng chức
I want to be promoted
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. muốn muon rising Keep the final n short. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. thăng thang level Keep the voice steady and level. chức chuc rising Lift the voice upward.
Nếu tôi được nhận việc thì tôi sẽ ký hợp đồng
If I get the job, I will sign the contract
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nếu neu rising Lift the voice upward. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. nhận nhan heavy Keep the final n short. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short. thì thi falling Let the voice fall gently. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. sẽ se broken Use a short broken rise. ký ky rising Lift the voice upward. hợp hop heavy Drop the voice low and short. đồng dong falling Đ starts like English d; do not say z.
Nếu công việc phù hợp thì tôi sẽ làm lâu dài
If the job fits, I will work long-term
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nếu neu rising Lift the voice upward. công cong level Keep the voice steady and level. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short. phù phu falling Let the voice fall gently. hợp hop heavy Drop the voice low and short. thì thi falling Let the voice fall gently. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. sẽ se broken Use a short broken rise. làm lam falling Let the voice fall gently. lâu lau level Keep the voice steady and level. dài dai falling Let the voice fall gently.
Xin chào, tôi đến để phỏng vấn
Hello, I came for an interview
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Xin xin level Keep the final n short. chào chao falling Let the voice fall gently. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. đến den rising Đ starts like English d; do not say z. để de dipping Đ starts like English d; do not say z. phỏng phong dipping Dip slightly, then recover. vấn van rising Keep the final n short.
Tôi có kinh nghiệm và kỹ năng phù hợp
I have suitable experience and skills
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. có co rising Lift the voice upward. kinh kinh level Keep the voice steady and level. nghiệm nghiem heavy Start with the back-of-mouth ng sound. và va falling Let the voice fall gently. kỹ ky broken Use a short broken rise. năng nang level Keep the voice steady and level. phù phu falling Let the voice fall gently. hợp hop heavy Drop the voice low and short.
Nếu được nhận việc, tôi sẽ cố gắng
If I get the job, I will do my best
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nếu neu rising Lift the voice upward. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. nhận nhan heavy Keep the final n short. việc viec heavy Drop the voice low and short. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. sẽ se broken Use a short broken rise. cố co rising Lift the voice upward. gắng gang rising Lift the voice upward.
Meaning check
Quick practice
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Week 5 · Day 29 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.
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