Chapter 4. Family and Relations OBJECTIVES At the end of this lesson, you will know

how to introduce and talk about your family members children in hierarchical family in both northern and southern Vietnamese

dialects and how they call themselves to their siblings and parents. ask and answer questions of bio-data: marital status, address and phone

numbers. use “or” questions and other type of Yes/No question. read addresses and understand personal privacy in target country

1- a- A: Thöa baø, toâi xin giôùi thieäu ñaây laø meï toâi vaø anh Long, anh trai toâi. B: Haân haïnh gaëp baø vaø gaëp anh. Ñaây laø nhaø toâi. Nhaø toâi laø giaùo sö. A: Raát vui gaëp anh chò. B: Anh Long ñaõ laäp gia ñình chöa? Anh Long: Toâi ñaõ keát hoân, nhöng ñaõ ly dò roài. Ñoù laø con trai saùu tuoåi cuûa toâi. b- Anh Nam: Ai ñaây, chò Lan?

chò Lan: AØ! Ñaây laø anh Toøng, anh hai toâi, vaø chò Nga, baø xaõ cuûa anh toâi. Anh Nam: Raát vui gaëp anh chò. chò Lan: Anh Nam, anh ñaõ coù gia ñình chöa? Anh Nam: Chöa. Toâi coøn ñoäc thaân.

Applications Formal introduction between an old man and a young lady

Young lady Old man Young man 1- very politely introduce her younger brother to the old man.

1-response to the introduction and say greetings to the young man. Want to know how old he is

1- return his greetings and tell him your age.

2- want to know the young man’s job

2- tell him you are a doctor

3- want to know if the young man got married

3- tell him you are still single

4- say yes. Tell him your husband is there.

4- (talking to the young lady) want to know if the young lady got married

5- say bye to the old man

5- say bye to both of them and say to see them again

5- say bye to both of them and say to see them again

2- a- A: Xin loãi chò, gia ñình anh coù bao nhieâu ngöôøi? B: Gia ñình toâi coù 6 ngöôøi, boá meï toâi, vaø boán anh em toâi. A: Chò laø con caû trong gia ñình phaûi khoâng?

B: OÀ, khoâng. Toâi khoâng phaûi laø con lôùn nhaát. Toâi laø con thöù. Toâi laø con thöù hai.

A: Chò laø con gaùi duy nhaát trong gia ñình phaûi khoâng? B: Daï, vaâng. Toâi coù moät anh trai vaø hai em trai. b- A: Baïn laø con moät phaûi khoâng? B: Khoâng, Nhöng toâi laø con tröôûng. Toâi laø chò caû. A: Baïn coù maáy anh chò em? B: Toâi coù 5 anh chò em. Em gaùi uùt cuûa toâi ñaõ coù choàng vaø coù moät con roài. Applications

A B 1- say greetings to B and ask what B’s name is.

1- Return B’s greetings. Tell A your name.

2- want to know if B is the eldest child in the family

2- say yes. Say you have 1 younger sister and 2 younger brothers

3- want to know if B’s siblings got married.

3- say they are still single. They a re college students. Say you’ve been married and get 2 children. (use conjunction “but” to combine two contrast sentences)

4- ask how old B’s children are. 4- say your daughter is 13, your son is 11. Want to know how many family members there are in A’s family.

5- say two: your mom and you. Also say you are the only girl and your dad passed away.

5- say sorry to know A’s dad already deceased.

3- A: Xin loãi coâ. Xin coâ cho bieát soá ñieän thoaïi vaên phoøng cuûa coâ. B: Thöa, soá 883 6776. Ñieän thoaïi cuûa oâng soá maáy? A: Daï, soá 897 6655. B: Thöa oâng, ñaây laø soá ñieän thoaïi nhaø hay ñieän thoaïi di ñoäng? A: AØ! Ñoù laø soá ñieän thoaïi di ñoäng. B: Soá vuøng laø soá maáy? A: Daï, 87 B: Ñòa chæ oâng ôû ñaâu?

A: Toâi ôû soá 1259/15/8 ñöôøng Hai Baø Tröng, Quaän 2, Thaønh phoá Ñaø Naüng.

Applications

A B 1- say hi to B. 1- return greetings to A. Want to

know how A is. 2- say you are fine and thank. Want to know where B’s working.

2- say you are working at a doctor’s office.

3- want to know where B’s office located

3- tell A your office address which is in somewhere in Vietnam with #, street, district if possible, and city.

4- ask B’s phone numbers 4- tell A your phone number with area code

5- want to know if it is cell phone or office phone number.

5- say it is your office phone. Say you don’t have cell phone numbers. Also give A your home phone numbers

6- say thanks 6- respond to A’s thanks.

1- Children in hierarchical family Con caû, con tröôûng usually used in North Vietnam. Anh caû, chò caû usually used in North Vietnam. Con lôùn nhaát usually used in South and Central Vietnam. Anh hai, chò hai usually used in South and Central Vietnam. In Central and South Vietnam, people usually don’t use the names of the children to call them. They prefer using the ordinal numbers. The kids who were born after “anh

hai” or “chò hai” are named “ Ba, Tö, Naêm, Saùu...” Suppose you were born after your “chò hai” and you are female, your younger siblings will call you “ chò Ba” instead of your own name; and your “chò Hai” can call you “em Ba”. Such names can be the family nick names. It doesn’t matter to write those nick names in lower or upper cases. The Central and Southern Vietnamese say that by using the ordinal numbers for their children’s names, it is easier to know the children hierarchy in a family. 2- “boá, ba, cha”, “meï, maù” and “con” “boá” : dad (north Vietnam) “meï” : mom (everywhere in Vietnam) “ba”, “cha”: dad (central & south Vietnam) “maù” : mom (central & south Vietnam) Those words are both common nouns and personal pronouns ( subject and object). When kids and parents are talking to each other: a- A kid will call his/her mom “meï” or “maù” and her/his dad “boá”, “ba” or “cha” according to his/her hometown. Kids will call themselves “con” while talking to their parents. Ex: Meï ôi! Con yeâu meï. b- Dad will call himself “boá”, “ba” or “cha” and mom will call herself “meï” or “maù” according to his/her hometown. Both dad and mom will call their kids “con” Ex: Con ôi! Boá cuõng yeâu con. 3- Personal privacy in Vietnam. Personal privacy is not a concern in Vietnam. On every business card, besides the office address and office phone numbers, you can see the owner’s home address, home phone numbers or cell phone numbers. These bio-data can be transferred to anyone else without consent of the card owners. 4- The “suyeäc” followed the numbers in an address. The word “suyeäc” indicates the slash(es) that follows the numbers in an address. Many addresses have more than one slashes. The numbers without any slash is the address of the house right on that street. The slash denotes the alley that begins at the side of that house. Three or four slashes mean you have to take three or four zigzag alleys from the original house on the street to get to the destination address. Ex: 145/24/12 ñöôøng Hai Baø Tröng.

1- Xin....

a- “Xin giôùi thieäu....” begins a polite introduction: Ex: Xin giôùi thieäu vôùi oâng ñaây laø nhaø toâi. : I’m glad to introduce this is my spouse.

a- “Xin ……..cho bieát....: Please let me know....: begins a polite request: Ex: Xin chò cho bieát soá ñieän thoaïi nhaø. (Please let me know your home

phone.) Xin cho toâi bieát ñòa chæ cuûa coâ. Xin oâng cho bieát soá nhaø cuûa em oâng. c- “Xin loãi....”: 1- excuse-me 2- I’m sorry... These two words can be used to begin a polite request. Ex: Xin loãi oâng. OÂng laø oâng Tuù phaûi khoâng? Xin loãi chò, xin chò cho bieát soâ ñieän thoaïi nhaø.

2- “...ñaõ...”: already; used to express a past action. It appears before a verb to form past tense. Ex: Toâi ñaõ laäp gia ñình. Gia ñình toâi ñaõ soáng ôû Vieät Nam naêm 1990.

3- “...ñaõ.....chöa?”: This is another type of Yes/No question. a- When you are not sure or you don’t know if an action has happened, already happened or will happen, you can use “....ñaõ ....chöa” to make the question. Ex: Coâ ñaõ laäp gia ñình chöa? (Are you married?) Anh Ba ñaõ ñeán Myõ chöa? ( Has Ba arrived in the U.S.?)

b- to answer “...ñaõ.....chöa?” questions, people always use the adverbs “...ñaõ.....roài” (already) or “....chöa..” (not yet) to confirm if the action happened or hasn’t happened. They are used in the answers to the above question.

Ex: Toâi chöa coù gia ñình. (I’m not married yet.) Anh Ba ñaõ ñeán Myõ roài. (Ba has already arrived in the U.S.)

4- “...thöù..” + number written in full: indicating the ordinal number. Ex: thöù nhaát ( first) thöù nhì (second) thöù ba (third) Ex: Myõ laø queâ höông thöù hai cuûa toâi. Chò aáy laø con gaùi thöù tö trong gia ñình. (She’s the fourth child in her family.) Ñoù laø oâng choàng thöù naêm cuûa baø aáy.

5- “coù bao nhieâu?”, “coù maáy?”: how many...?/ how much...?: used to ask about the quantity of something. They are used for both countable and uncountable nouns. Ex: Baø coù maáy con? - Toâi coù 3 con. Chò coù bao nhieâu anh em? - Toâi khoâng coù anh chò em. Toâi laø con moät.

6- “laø” and “khoâng phaûi laø” In Lesson 1, you learned that “laø” is equivalent to the verb “to Be”, affirmative form, in English. Now, “khoâng phaûi laø” is equivalent to the negative form of the verb “to Be”. It can be used in negative question. Ex: Anh Nam laø con caû, khoâng phaûi laø con thöù.

Toâi laø sinh vieân. Toâi khoâng phaûi laø baùc só. Baø khoâng phaûi laø Baø Naêm phaûi khoâng?

7- Question with “hay” Ex: Chò laø sinh vieân hay coâ giaùo?

Anh em nhö theå chaân tay. ( It indicates the close relationships among natural brothers and sisters in a

family.) Cha naøo, con naáy.

( Like father, like son.)

1- giôùi thieäu: introduce ñaây this ñoù that ñaây laø this is ñoù laø that is ôû ñaây here ôû ñoù there ai who AØ! Well! or Oh! OÀ! Well! or Oh! 2- laäp gia ñình get married coù gia ñình get married keát hoân get married coù vôï (for male) get married coù choàng (for female) get married coù con have kid(s) coøn still chöa not yet ñaõ roài already roài already roài then ñoäc thaân single ly dò divorced 3-

anh em siblings; natural brothers & sisters chò em siblings; natural brothers & sisters anh chò em: siblings; natural brothers & sisters boá: ba: cha dad, father meï: maù mom, mother vôï wife choàng husband nhaø toâi (formal) 1. my house. 2. my spouse baø xaõ (informal) my wife oâng xaõ (informal) my husband 4- boá vôï father-in-law boá choàng father-in-law meï vôï mother-in-law meï choàng ï mother-in-law em gaùi younger sister em younger sister chò gaùi older sister chò older sister anh trai older brother anh older brother em trai younger brother em younger brother anh caû eldest brother anh hai eldest brother chò caû eldest sister chò hai eldest sister em uùt youngest brother/sister em gaùi uùt youngest sister em trai uùt youngest brother con trai 1. son 2. boy con gaùi 1. daughter 2. girl con kids in general con caùi children in general 5- con caû eldest son/daughter con tröôûng eldest son/daughter con lôùn nhaát eldest son/daughter con thöù second/third/fourth/ fifth... son/daughter thöù maáy? used to ask the hierarchy of children in a family con uùt youngest son / daughter

con moät unique or only son/daughter con duy nhaát: unique or only son/daughter 6- chuùng toâi we, us, our coù bao nhieâu? how much? how many? coù maáy? how much? how many? coù have coù there are/there is coøn soáng alive ñaõ maát dead/passed away/died thaønh vieân gia ñình family member ngöôøi (trong gia ñình) family member 7- bieát know Xin cho bieát Please let (me) know... ñòa chæ address ñöôøng, phoá street ñaïi loä avenue, boulevardsoá number soá ñieän thoaïi phone numbers soá phoân: phone numbers

ñieän thoaïi nhaø home phone ñieän thoaïi vaên phoøng: office phone phoân tay hand phone ñieän thoaïi baøn regular phone ñieän thoaïi di ñoäng mobile phone hay laø or hay or nhöng but soá vuøng area codes

1- Thöa oâng, xin giôùi thieäu ñaây laø.....( Yes, sir. I’m glad to introduce this is....) 2- Ai ñoù? (Who’s that?) – Ñoù laø baø xaõ toâi. (That’s my wife.) 3- Anh ñaõ laäp gia ñình chöa?( Are you married?) 4- Toâi coøn ñoäc thaân.(I’m still single.) 5- Toâi ñaõ keát hoân nhöng ñaõ ly dò roài.(I was married but already got divorced.) 6- Toâi ñaõ coù vôï vaø coù ba con. (I’ve been married and got 3 children.)

7- Gia ñình baïn coù bao nhieâu ngöôøi? (How many members are there in your family?)

8- Baïn laø con tröôûng hay con thöù? (Are you the eldest son/daughter or the second/third... one?)

9- Baïn coù maáy anh chò em?(How many brothers and sisters do you have?) 10- Toâi laø con moät.(I’m the only son/daughter in the family.) 11- Xin loãi. OÂng ôû ñaâu? / Ñòa chæ oâng ôû ñaâu? / Ñòa chæ oâng soá maáy? (What’s

your address?) 12- Xin baø cho soá ñieän thoaïi vaên phoøng.(Please give me your office numbers.) 13- Ñieän thoaïi chò soá maáy?(What’s your phone numbers?) 14- Ñaây laø ñieän thoaïi nhaø hay ñieän thoaïi vaên phoøng?(Is this home phone or

office phone?)

EXERCISE.-. 1. Put the necessary word (s): “thöa; xin; or xin loãi...” to make the sentences or requests more polite. Some of those words can be alternative.

1- _____ oâng. ______ giôùi thieäu vôùi oâng ñaây laø nhaø toâi 2- ______ coâ cho bieát ñòa chæ cuûa coâ. 3- _______ baø cho bieát teân, ______ baø. 4- _______ , oâng laø Baùc só Minh, phaûi khoâng? 5- Chò laø con gaùi thöù tö trong gia ñình phaûi khoâng, ______ chò? 6- _______, toâi chöa giôùi thieäu Giaùo sö Long.

EXERCISE.-. 2. Fill in the blanks with “ ñaõ...chöa”, “ñaõ...roài”, “chöa..” or “ñaõ” when available.

1- Anh caû toâi ____ laäp gia ñình naêm 2002. Anh aáy ____ coù hai con trai. 2- Toâi coøn ñoäc thaân. Toâi _____ coù gia ñình. 3- Em gaùi uùt cuûa Kyø Nam ____ ly dò choàng ____--? 4- Thaùng 8 naêm 1999, con trai thöù ba cuûa oâng Baù ____ laáy vôï ____. 5- Chò ____ giôùi thieäu anh hai toâi vôùi gia ñình chò ____? – Daï, toâi ____ giôùi thieäu

____. 6- Chò thöù ba cuûa toâi khoâng bieát anh. Chò aáy ____ bieát anh. 7- Ñoäc thaân laø ____ keát hoân.

EXERCISE.-. 3. Choose the appropriate words in the jumble box to fill in the blanks. Some words can be used several times.

a- maáy b- bao nhieâu c- leân maáy d- coù maáy e- coù bao nhieâu f- leân

1- Xin loãi baø. Baø ______ tuoåi?

2- Chò ______ con roài? 3- Baïn ________ anh chò em? 4- Em ______ chín phaûi khoâng? – Daï khoâng. Em _____ möôøi. 5- Chaùu _____ tuoåi? 6- Gia ñình Laâm coù _______ ngöôøi?

EXERCISE.-. 4. Translate the English words in the sentences into Vietnamese. 1- Ngoïc Lan laø (the second daughter.) ___________________. 2- Nam khoâng phaûi laø (the only child in the family.) ____________________ 3- OÂng Nam laø (the eldest or the third brother?) _______________________ 4- Minh khoâng phaûi laø (the only son.) __________________________. Anh

coù hai em trai. EXERCISE.-. 5. Fill in the blanks with the verb “laø” when necessary. State whether it is mandatory, optional or unnecessary.

1- Em gaùi toâi _____ 12 tuoåi. 2- Soá ñieän thoaïi cuûa oâng _____ 835 7423 phaûi khoâng? 3- Meï toâi _____ Baø Naêm. 4- Meï anh Ba teân _____ Baø Hai. 5- Ñaây _____ baø xaõ toâi. Baø xaõ toâi ____ ôû Haûi Phoøng. 6- Chò caû ____ noäi trôï. Chò toâi ____ ñoäc thaân. 7- Ñaø Naüng ______ queâ boá toâi. Boá toâi _____ ngöôøi mieàn Trung. 8- Ñòa chæ cuûa anh caû toâi ____ soá 136/7 ñöôøng Ngoâ Quyeàn. 9- Em trai toâi khoâng phaûi ____ baùc só. Em trai toâi ____ thö kyù vaên phoøng baùc

só. 10- Soá ñieän thoaïi vuøng ____ 48 hay 49? 11- Ñoù ____ ai?

EXERCISE.-. 6. Change into negative form. 1- Meï toâi laø sinh vieân. _____________________________________________ 2- Anh trai toâi 20 tuoåi. _____________________________________________ 3- Ñoù laø chò hai toâi. _______________________________________________ 4- Em laø con uùt trong gia ñình phaûi khoâng? _____________________________ 5- Ba toâi veà höu. __________________________________________________ 6- Nga laø con lôùn nhaát trong 5 anh chò em. _____________________________

EXERCISE.-. 7. Read the following sentences carefully then rewrite them in different way when possible. Note that the meaning in new sentences are not changed.

1- Ñieän thoaïi oâng soá maáy? ___________________________________________ 2- Xin coâ cho bieát ñòa chæ. ___________________________________________ 3- Baø coù maáy con trai? ______________________________________________ 4- Baïn ngöôøi Hueá phaûi khoâng? _______________________________________ 5- Em leân maáy? ____________________________________________________ 6- Ba toâi laø con tröôûng. ______________________________________________

7- Xin loãi oâng, oâng laø oâng Buøi Phuïng phaûi khoâng? ________________________ 8- Chò Thuùy Haø laø con moät. __________________________________________

EXERCISE.-. 8. When necessary, correct the mistakes in the sentences below. 1- Toâi khoâng laø Chuùa. ___________________________________________ 2- Chuùng toâi khoâng hoï Nguyeãn. ____________________________________ 3- Nhatrang laø ôû mieàn Trung. ______________________________________ 4- Meï chò Taâm laø ñaõ maát roài. ______________________________________ 5- Anh Baûo ñaõ laäp gia ñình chöa? ___________________________________ 6- Gia ñình toâi ngöôøi Baéc. _________________________________________

EXTENDED FAMILY OBJECTIVES At the end of this lesson, you will be able to

know all the words relating to your kinsmen and kinswomen how to talk to your relatives in your extended family use correct subject and object pronouns when talking or writing to/ about your

intermediate and extended family members use another type of Yes/No questions and use future tense understand how the Vietnamese appreciate and maintain their kindred.

1- A: Anh coù nhieàu baø con khoâng? B: Coù. Toâi coù moät chuù, moät baùc vaø hai dì. A: Baø con anh soáng ôû ñaâu? B: Baø con toâi ôû Myõ, Nhaät vaø Phaùp. Hoï haøng beân ngoaïi cuûa chò coù nhieàu khoâng? A: Daï khoâng. Toâi chæ coù hai caäu vì meï toâi laø con gaùi duy nhaát trong gia ñình. B: Chò coù coøn oâng baø noäi khoâng? A: Thöa khoâng. OÂng baø noäi toâi ñaõ maát roài. B: Baø noäi toâi coøn soáng. Applications. Note: Try to use the correct nouns for relatives on both father and mother’s sides.

A B 1- ask if B has any relatives on his father’s side.

1- say you have many, 2 aunts, 2 uncles. Also say you don’t have any “baùc” ‘cause your father is the eldest in the family.

2- ask if they are living in U.S. 2- say yes. Say 1 aunt and 1 uncle are in the U.S.; 1 aunt and her husband are in Australia; 1 uncle and his wife are in Vietnam.

3- ask if B’s grand-parents to his/her mother’s side are still alive.

3- say your grandma is still alive. But your grandpa passed away.

4- want to know how old she is. 4- tell A your grandma is 80 now. 5- want to know where she is living now.

5- say she is living with your aunt ( your mom’s side) in Vietnam.

2- A: Baø ngoaïi ôi! B: Gì theá chaùu? A: Caäu Taøm ôû Vieät Nam laøm ngheà gì? B: AØ, caäu laø noâng daân. A: Thu nhaäp cuûa caäu coù ñuû soáng khoâng, baø ngoaïi? B: Khoâng, thu nhaäp cuûa caäu thaáp, khoâng ñuû soáng. Meï chaùu thöôøng göûi tieàn veà giuùp gia ñình caäu. A: Bao laâu thì meï chaùu göûi tieàn cho caäu? B: Moãi naêm hai laàn. Vaøo dòp Teát vaø ngaøy gioã oâng ngoaïi.

Applications.

Younger brother Older sister 1- Calling your sister ‘s attention. 1- response to his call. 2- want to know if Uncle Baèng is dad’s cousin

2- say yes. Say Uncle Baèng is dad’s younger brother

3- want to know how many members there are in Uncle Baèng’s family.

3- say there are 8 people, Uncle Baèng, Aunt Baèng and 6 children

4- say Uncle Baèngr has too many children. Want to know what his job is.

4- say he is a clerk, but now he’s unemployed.

5- want to know if your dad and mom send money to him.

5- say yes.

6- want to know how often. 6- say on Teát occasion and on death anniversary of grandpa to dad’s side.

3- A: Gia ñình mình vöôït bieân ñeán Myõ phaûi khoâng maùï? B: Phaûi, con.

A: Ba maù ñeán Myõ naêm naøo? A: Naêm 1979. B: Ba maù ñi ñöôøng thuûy hay ñi ñöôøng boä? A: Ñöôøng boä vaø ñöôøng thuûy. B: Gia ñình mình laø thuyeàn nhaân phaûi khoâng maùï? A: Ñuùng, con.

Applications

A B 1- say hi to B. Ask how B is. 1- return A’s greetings and say you’re

fine. 2- want to know when B arrived in the U.S.

2- say in 1986.

3- ask whether B escaped from Vietnam by sea route or land route.

3- say you took sea route to Thailand.

4- want to know if B was a boatman 4- say yes 5- want to know B’s job 5- say you are a teacher now.

6- ask if B has relatives in Vietnam 6- say yes. Say your uncles to your mom’s side are still there.

7- want to know if B sent money to help them

7- say yes. Say you’ve sent money to your uncles twice every year.

4- a- Granddaughter: OÂng noâò ôi! Grandpa: Gì theá chaùu? Granddaughter: Chaùu thöông oâng noäi quaù. Grandpa: OÂng cuõng yeâu chaùu laém.

b- Son: Meï ôi! Con yeâu meï. Mom: Meï cuõng yeâu con laém. Son: Con seõ hoïc gioûi ñeå laøm ba meï vui loøng. Applications. Conversation between grandma, to mom’s side, and grand child. Use the correct personal pronouns.

Chaùu ngoaïi Baø ngoaïi 1- say hi to your grandma. Say you love her very much

1- return your grandkid’s greetings. Also say you love him/her much, too.

2- ask what job your grandpa did when (khi) your grandma gave birth to your mom.

2- say grandpa was a teacher

3- ask how old your grandpa was when (khi) your mom was born.

3- say his/her grandpa was 37

4- ask how old your grandma was when (khi) your mom was born.

4- say you were 34

5- ask if your grandma was also a teacher then (luùc ñoù).

5- say no. Say you were a housewife.

1- “ Con seõ hoïc gioûi ñeå laøm vui loøng boá meï”: I’ll study hard to be in top ranks of class to please you.

The Vietnamese highly appreciate academic achievements. Kids’ learning/studying activities are always encouraged by their parents who voluntarily work very hard or live in austerity in order to afford their kids’ schooling...as long as they achieve college or university degrees. So, “hoïc gioûi” or “hoïc chaêm” is the best way to pay parents’ gratitude in Vietnamese viewpoint.

2- “döôïng”: aunt’s husband, both dad and mom’ s sides, used in southern and central Vietnamese dialects.

In northern Vietnamese dialect, people use “chuù” or “baùc” to indicate aunt’s husband, both dad and mom’ s sides

3- “göûi tieàn veà Vieät Nam”: The Vietnamese also appreciate and like to maintain kinship and kindred. “Gioã” and “Teát” are the best opportunities of the year for family and extended family reunions as well. The overseas Vietnamese always share the hardships of the relatives who are still in Vietnam by sending money to them on “Gioã” and “Teát” occasions. Today, the amount of US dollars sent by overseas Vietnamese to Vietnam is above 3 billions per year.

4- “thuyeàn nhaân”: boat people & “vöôït bieân”: escape the country These two words came into existent after April 1975 when the South Vietnam collapsed and Northern Communists won over and reunited the country. Millions of people in the south, the central and even in the north escaped the country for freedom on fragile wooden boats. In the south, many people took sea route. They were rescued by European or American ships and were allowed to temporarily stay in the Philippines, Malaysia or Indonesia whereas some took land route to Cambodia, then to Thailand . In the north, they took sea route to Hong Kong, Macau. This is the biggest and the most terrible exile in Vietnam history.

1- “...coù.....khoâng?” question. This is another type of Yes/ No questions. Ex: Anh coù baø con ôû Vieät Nam khoâng? (Do you have any relatives in Vietnam?) Löông cuûa chò coù ñuû soáng khoâng? (Is your salary enough for you to live on?

The answer to those questions can be: “Daï, coù.” or “Thöa, khoâng.” 2- Coâ coù coøn oâng baø noäi khoâng?: Are your grandparent still alive?

a. That expression is the synonym of “OÂng baø noäi coâ coù coøn soáng khoâng?” and “OÂng baø noäi coâ coù coøn khoâng?” ( Are your grandparents still alive?), The Vietnamese prefer the first and the last than the second. “coøn” in the first and the last implies “coøn soáng”

b. To answer that question, people also prefer saying “ Toâi coøn oâng baø noäi.” or “ OÂng baø noäi toâi coøn.” instead of “OÂng baø noäi toâi coøn soáng.” You can also use the shortcuts for the answers: “Daï, coøn.” or “ Thöa, khoâng coøn.”

3- “Phaûi” and “Ñuùng”: Yes. But they are not so polite as “ Daï, phaûi.” or “Thöa, ñuùng.”

4- They are used to answer questions with “ .... phaûi khoâng?”. If you are higher rank in family hierarchy or social hierarchy, you can use either of those words to answer. (See Scenario 3). In case you are in lower rank to the person who asks the question, you can insert “daï” or “thöa” to make your answers sound more polite. Ex: 1- Baùc: Boá chaùu veà höu roài phaûi khoâng? Chaùu: Daï phaûi. 2- Baø noäi: Baïn chaùu laø thuyeàn nhaân phaûi khoâng? Chaùu: Thöa, ñuùng. 5- Subject and Object Personal Pronouns.

Subject and Object Personal Pronouns are the most complicated in Vietnamese. As said before, those pronouns vary according to the sex, ages, family hierarchy, social positions and classes, and relations between the speaker and the listener. We are talking about extended family relation. The following general information provides you the general way to call yourself and your family members when talking or writing to them. 1-

A Call

yourself:

B when talking / writing to:

C and call them:

toâi 1- a stranger; 2- persons with normal relation; 3- someone who is a little bit

younger or older than you.

1- oâng, baø, anh, chò

2- same as in 1 3- coâ, em, anh,

chò or by their name

con (mandatory

)

1- boá meï 1- boá, meï, ba, maù, cha,

con 1- oâng baø noäi/ngoaïi, coâ, dì, döôïng, 1- same words as in B-

chuù, thím, baùc, baùc gaùi, caäu, môï (southern Vietnamese) 2- old and respectful teachers

1 2- thaày/ coâ

chaùu 1- oâng baø noäi/ngoaïi, 2- coâ, dì, döôïng, chuù, thím, baùc, baùc gaùi, caäu, môï (northern Vietnamese)

1- same as in B-1 2- same as in B-2

em 1- anh trai, chò gaùi, anh chò hoï 2- choàng 3- can be with person(s) in normal relation but you show respect to him/her, or you are younger than him/her. 4- your teachers.

1- anh, chò, anh, chò

2- anh, cöng, mình3- oâng, baø, anh,

chò 4- thaày, coâ

anh 1- vôï 2- em trai, em gaùi, em hoï.

3- can be with person(s) in normal relation but you are older than him/her.

1- em, cöng, mình 2- em 3- em, coâ, or by

their name

chò 1- em trai, em gaùi, em baø con 2- can be with person(s) in normal relation but you are older than him/her.

1- em 2- em, coâ, or by

their names

tao* or use your own first

name

1- friend in normal relation 2- close friend

1- baïn or by his/her own first name 2- maøy* or by his/her own name.

2-

A If you are

B you are talking/

writing to

C call them

D call yourself

boá, ba, cha your children con boá, ba, cha meï, maù your children con meï, maù oââng noäi oââng ngoaïi

your grandchildren your grandchildren

con or chaùu oââng / oâng noäi oâng / oâng ngoaïi

baø noäi baø ngoaïi

your grandchildren your grandchildren

con or chaùu baø /baø noäi baø/ baø ngoaïi

coâ, dì, döôïng, chuù, thím, baùc, baùc gaùi, caäu, môï

your niece or nephew

con or chaùu same as in A

5-“...ôi!”:

“ôi” is the ending word used after a proper name or a personal pronoun to begin a speech and to call for attention of the listener in informal and friendly way. Ex: Chò ôi! Nam ôi! 6- Gì theá?” and “Gì vaäy?”: “What’s that?; used to response to “...ôi!”

Ex: 1- Daughter: Meï ôi! Mom: Gì theá? /Gì theá, con? 2- Niece: (calling attention of uncle to her mom’s side). Caäu ôi! Uncle: Gì vaäy? / Gì vaäy, chaùu? Note: People often add object personal pronouns at the end of “Gì theá?” and Gì vaäy?” to make the response more friendly. 7- “seõ” + verb: indicates a future action Ex: Toâi seõ göûi tieàn cho meï toâi. Baùc anh seõ veà Vieät Nam phaûi khoâng? 8- “mình”: our; informal possessive case. Ex: gia ñình mình : our family oâng noäi mình: our grandpa lôùp mình: our class queâ höông mình: our country baø con mình: our relatives/ our countrymen 9- Possessive case (con’t) In previous lesson, you learnt possessive case in first singular personal pronoun. Ex: boá toâi; gia ñình toâi; dì toâi; queâ toâi... Now, we can add any proper name or personal pronoun to a common noun to form possessive case or we can insert the word “cuûa” between a common noun and a personal pronoun. Ex: Boá cuûa chaùu : boá chaùu Meï cuûa coâ Lan: meï coâ Lan Con daâu cuûa baùc Tröôøng: con daâu baùc Tröôøng

Con cuûa meï: con meï. Chaùu cuûa oâng: chaùu oâng

Moät gioït maùu ñaøo hôn ao nöôùc laõ (Blood is thicker than water.)

Con nhaø toâng khoâng gioáng loâng cuõng gioáng caùnh ( As the tree, so the fruit.)

Baùn anh em xa, mua laùng gieàng gaàn (Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother.)

1- gia toäc: extended family toå tieân : ancestors oâng baø : ancestors con chaùu descendents hoï haøng :(Northern VN) relatives baø con : (Southern VN) relatives beân noäi father’s side beân ngoaïi mom’s side hoï noäi: extended family on dad’s side hoï ngoaïi extended family on mom’s side 2- hoï haøng beân noäi relatives of dad’s side hoï noäi: relatives of dad’s side oâng noäi grand-pa baø noäi: grand-ma oâng baø noäi grand parents (dad’s parents) chaùu noäi grand children (of sons’ side) con daâu daughter-in-law em daâu sister-in-law chò daâu chuù father’s younger brother thím chuù’s wife

baùc father’s older brother baùc gaùi baùc’s wife coâ father’s younger/older sister döôïng coâ’s husband 3- hoï haøng beân ngoaïi relatives of mom’s side hoï ngoaïi extended family on mom’s side oâng baø ngoaïi grand parents (mom’s parents) oâng ngoaïi grand pa baø ngoaïi grand ma chaùu ngoaïi grand children (daughters’ side) con reå son-in-law em reå brother-in-law anh reå brother-in-law caäu mom’s older/younger brother môï caäu’s wife dì mom’s older/younger sister döôïng dì’s husband. See Culture Notes chaùu gaùi niece chaùu trai nephew 4- hoïc study, learn thöông: yeâu love chaêm hard-working, studious gioûi well, good. vui loøng pleasant laøm vui loøng please hoài ñoù then luùc ñoù at that time 5- anh chò em ho cousins anh chò em baø con cousins anh hoï older cousin brother em hoï younger cousin brother/sister chò hoï older cousin sister anh chò em ruoät: biological brothers & sisters mình: our. See Grammar Notes 6- ôi! ending particle. See Grammar Notes. Gì theá? : Gì vaäy? See Grammar Notes. Phaûi: Ñuùng: Yes. See Grammar Notes.

chæ only chæ... thoâi only vì because nhieàu much, many ít few, a few, little coøn still. See Grammar Notes. vaãn still vaãn coøn still 7- bao laâu thì? how often? thöôøng often, usually thænh thoaûng sometimes laàn a time moãi every, each moãi naêm every year ñuû enough taïm temporarily taïm ñuû temporarily enough 8- thaáp low cao high löông salary, wages thu nhaäp income seõ: indicating future tense. See Grammar Notes. göûi send göûi tieàn send/transfer money chuyeån tieàn remit money giuùp help cho 1. give 2. for veà 1. back 2. return neân so, therefore vaøo dòp on the occasion of ngaøy gioã death anniversary 9- thuyeàn nhaân boatman, boatpeople. See Culture Notes. vöôït bieân escape the country by boat or by land. See Culture Notes. ñi go ñöôøng boä land route, by land ñöôøng thuûy sea route, by sea bieån Ñoâng South China Sea Nhaät Japan

Phaùp France Thaùi lan Thailand Laøo Laos Maõ lai AÙ Malaysia Nam döông Indonesia

1- Chò coù coøn oâng baø noäi khoâng? / OÂng baø noäi chò coù coøn khoâng?/ OÂng baø noäi chò coøn soáng phaûi khoâng? (Are your grandparents still alive?)

2- Toâi coøn baø noäi. / Baø noäi toâi coøn./ Baø noäi toâi coøn soáng. (My grandma is still alive.)

3- Bao laâu thì oâng göûi tieàn veà Vieät Nam? (How often do you send money to Vietnam?)

4- Vaøo dòp Teát. (On Teát’ s occasion.) 5- Meï ôi! - Gì theá, con? (Mom? – What’s up, dear?) 6- Con seõ hoïc gioûi ñeå laøm vui loøng boá meï. (I’ll study hard to be in top class to

please dad and mom.) 7- Con seõ hoïc chaêm ñeå boá meï vui loøng. (I’ll will study hard to please dad and

mom.) 8- Baø ôi! Chaùu yeâu baø laém. (Grandma, I love you so much.) 9- Chuù vöôït bieân naêm naøo? (When did you escape from the country?) 10- Coù phaûi anh laø thuyeàn nhaân khoâng? (Are you boatman?) 11- Anh ñi ñöôøng boä hay ñöôøng thuûy? (Did you take land route or sea route?)

EXERCISE.-. 1. Change the following into question form, using structure “...phaûi khoâng?”.

1- Dì laø em gaùi cuûa meï. ____________________________________________

2- Chò Lan laø chò hai trong gia ñình.

_________________________________ 3- Baø con beân noäi laø anh chò em vaø hoï haøng cuûa maù._____________________

4- Baø noäi sinh ra meï.

______________________________________________

5- Baø ngoaïi sinh ra caäu vaø dì. _______________________________________

6- Choàng cuûa dì vaø coâ laø chuù hay laø döôïng.

____________________________ EXERCISE.-. 2. Change the following into question form, using structure “... coù ... khoâng?”.

1- Baùc só bieát ñòa chæ vaø soá ñieän thoaïi cuûa boá mình. ________________________ 2- Meï anh An veà höu. ________________________________________________

3- Chaùu ngoaïi laø con cuûa con trai. ______________________________________

4- Hoï haøng beân noäi cuûa meï toâi nhieàu laém. _______________________________ 5- Anh aáy ngöôøi trung, laøm ngheà thôï maùy.

________________________________

6- OÂng baø ngoaïi cuûa baïn coøn soáng. _____________________________________ EXERCISE.-. 3. Match the best appropriate meaning in column B to column A. 1- dì gheû__________ a- em gaùi hay chò cuûa boá 2- con uùt __________ b- vôï cuûa em trai 3- thím ___________ c- vôï cuûa con trai 4- coâ _____________ d- choàng cuûa em gaùi 5- chuù ____________ e- vôï cuûa caäu 6- dì _____________ f- vôï cuûa chuù 7- döôïng __________ g- choàng cuûa coâ 8- con tröôûng _______ h- vôï cuûa anh trai 9- môï _____________ i- phaùi nöõ coøn treû 10- chò daâu _________ j- con cuûa con gaùi 11- con daâu ________ k- anh em moät boá meï 12- con gaùi _________ l- choàng cuûa con gaùi 13- con trai ________ m- choàng cuûa chò gaùi 14- em daâu _________ n- con cuûa chuù, baùc, coâ, dì, caäu 15- con reå __________ o- baø con 16- baùc gaùi _________ p- vôï thöù hai cuûa boá 17- caäu ____________ q- con beù nhaát trong gia ñình 18- chaùu ngoai ______ r- em trai cuûa boá 19- chaùu noäi _______ s- phaùi nam coøn treû 20- em reå _________ t- anh/em trai cuûa meï 21- anh chò em ruoät. ____ u- con cuûa con trai

22- hoï haøng ________ v- em gaùi cuûa meï 23- anh chò em hoï _____ x- vôï cuûa baùc 24- anh reå ____________ y- anh cuûa boá vaø meï 25- baùc ______________ z- con caû EXERCISE.-. 4. Use “ñaõ” or “seõ” to make the changes of the tenses in the following sentences.

1- Ngaøy mai chuùng toâi _____ ñi thaêm oâng baø ngoaïi. 2- Toâi ___ bieát ñòa chæ cuûa coâ roài. 3- OÂng Nam chöa gaëp meï vôï. OÂng aáy ____ gaëp meï vô chuû nhaät naøyï. 4- Chuù toâi ____ laáy vôï naêm 1998. Nhöng chuù thím toâi ___ ly dò naêm 2006. 5- Anh ____ göûi tieàn veà Vieät Nam chöa? - Chöa, nhöng toâi ___ göûi. 6- OÂng baø ngoaïi toâi ____ maát ôû Ñaø Laït naêm 1999.

EXERCISE.-. 5. Look at the situations of the people who are talking in the following conversations. Then fill in the blanks with the correct personal pronouns, objects and subjects

1- ( An uncle, dad’s younger brother, is talking to his nephew) Uncle: ______ ôi! Xin cho ____soá ñieän thoaïi vaên phoøng cuûa boá____ Nephew: Xin loãi _______. ________ khoâng bieát aï.

2- (You are saying greetings to your grandma to your mom’s side and asking if she is fine) You: _____ chaøo ___________ aï. _______ khoûe khoâng? Grandma: Caùm ôn _______. _______ khoâng khoûe. Meï ______ ôû ñaâu? You: Thöa _______, meï _______ ñi laøm.

3- ( A conversation between 2 cousins, a boy of 18 and a girl of 12) Boy: Chaøo _____. ______ khoâng ñi hoïc hoâm naøy aø? Girl: Chaøo ______. Hoâm nay _____ bò oám ( got sick).

4- (A conversation between two young lovers) Young man: _____ ôi. Xin cho _____ gaëp boá meï _______. Young girl: ______ muoán (want) gaëp boá meï _____ ñeå laøm gì? Young man: ______ muoán keát hoân vôùi (with) _______.

5- ( A conversation between you and your friend in a very friendly way) You: Bao laâu thì ______ göûi tieàn veà Vieät Nam cho maù ____? Your friend: Vaøo ngaøy gioã ba ____ vaø vaøo dòp Teát.

6- ( You are talking to your girlfriend) You: Chaøo ______. ______ vöôït bieân khi naøo? Your girlfriend: _____ vöôït bieân naêm 1982. Coøn _____? (and how about you?) You: ____ ñi ñöôøng boä naêm 1980.

7- ( A male teacher wants a student, Laâm, to help him) Teacher: Laâm, ______ giuùp _____ vieäc naøy ñöôïc khoâng? Student: Daï. ______ muoán ______ laøm gì?

Teacher: Xin ____ ñaùnh vaàn (spell) teân cuûa _____. 8- Toân and his grandpa (on his dad’s side) are exchanging greetings.

Toân: ________ chaøo _________. _________ coù khoûe khoâng? Toân’s grandpa: Chaøo _________. __________ khoeû laém. 9- Laân and his Uncle Baøng( on his mom’s side) are exchanging greetings. Laân: __________chaøo ________. Uncle Baøng: Chaøo _____________. Meï ______ ñaâu? Laân: Thöa, ____. Meï _____ ñi laøm. 10- A couple are talking about “phôû” Choàng: ________ôi! Ñaây laø phôû cuûa _________. Vôï: Caùm ôn ___________. EXERCISE.-. 6. Indicate: a- the relationship between you and the person (s) mentioned in each sentence. b- which personal pronoun you use to call the person. c- which personal pronoun that person use to call you. Ex: Meï Nam laø em gaùi meï toâi. a- Nam laø em baø con cuûa toâi.

b- Toâi goïi Nam laø em. c- Nam goïi toâi laø anh/chò. 1- OÂng ngoaïi cuûa Taâm laø ba toâi. Toâi laø con gaùi cuûa ba toâi.

a-Taâm laø____________________. b- Toâi goïi _____________________. c- Taâm goïi ____________________________________________.

2- Cha toâi goïi oâng aáy laø cha vôï. a- OÂng aáy laø________________________.

b- Toâi goïi _____________________. c- OÂng aáy goïi________________.

3- Baø aáy laø chò meï toâi. a- Baø aáy laø________________________________.

b- Toâi goïi ____________________. c- Baø aáy goïi ___________________.

4- OÂng Ngaïc goïi ba toâi baèng anh. a -OÂng Ngaïc laø___________________.

b- Toâi goïi ____________________ . c- OÂng Ngaïc goïi _______________.

5- Toâi laø con trai 20 tuoåi. Beù Na goïi chò toâi laø meï. a-Beù Na laø________ .

b- Toâi goïi _______________________. c- Beù Na goïi _______________.

6- Toâi laø em vôï cuûa anh Taùm. a- Anh Taùm laø ______________________.

b- Toâi goïi ____________________. c- Anh Taùm goïi ________________.

7- OÂng Hoøa laø choàng coâ toâi. a- OÂng Hoøa laø _______________________.

b- Toâi goïi ______________________. c- OÂng Hoøa goïi _____________. 8- Baø ngoaïi toâi laø em cuûa baø noäi anh Vinh. a- Anh Vinh laø __________.

b- Toâi goïi ___________________. c- Anh Vinh goïi _________________.

9- Em gaùi cuûa chò daâu toâi laø Hoa, 18 tuoåi. Toâi 21 tuoåi. a- Hoa laø_______.

b- Toâi goïi _____________________. c- Hoa goïi ___________________.

10- Chaùu trai cuûa thím toâi laøm ngheà baùc só, 29 tuoåi. Toâi 25 tuoåi. a-____________________________. b-Toâi goïi ____________________.

c- ________ goïi _____________. EXERCISE.-. 7. Fill in the blanks with the correct words to denote the relationship among the people.

1- Meï cuûa thím toâi laø______ cuûa chuù toâi: a- dì. b- baùc c- meï vôï d- cha choàng

2- Cha vôï cuûa anh reå toâi laø ________ toâi. a- boá b- chuù c- baùc d- oâng ngoaïi

3- Vôï cuûa anh Ngaïc laø ________ cuûa meï anh aáy. a- con gaùi b- chò gaùi c- em daâu d- con daâu

4- Boá cuûa caùc con toâi laø _________ cuûa toâi. a- oâng noäi b- oâng ngoaïi c- döôïng d- choàng

5- Con gaùi cuûa chuù baïn laø _______ cuûa baïn a- anh em hoï b- em hoï c- anh chò em hoï d- chò hoï

6- Ngöôøi sinh ra cha cuûa coâ Nga laø _______cuûa coâ Nga. a- baø ngoaïi b- baø noäi c- dì d- baø

7- Choàng cuûa coâ toâi laø _______ cuûa baø noäi toâi. a- chaùu trai b- chaùu c- con reå d- con trai

EXCERCISE.- .8. Read and rearrange the sentences to make a meaningful paragraph.

a- Hoa laø hoïc sinh gioûi lôùp 9. 1- __________ b- Hoa vaø boá meï seõ thaêm hoï haøng beân noäi. 2- __________ c- Naêm nay gia ñình Hoa seõ veà Haø noäi. 3- __________ d- Hoï cuõng thaêm baø con beân ngoaïi. 4- __________ e- Boá meï Hoa ngöôøi Haø noäi. 5- __________ f- Moïi ngöôøi seõ raát vui veû. 6- __________ g- Hoa laø con gaùi duy nhaát trong gia ñình. 7- __________ h- Nhöng Hoa sinh ra ôû Saigon. 8- __________ i- Gia ñình Hoa soáng ôû Myõ 15 naêm roài . 9- __________

j- Hoa coù nhieàu anh chò em hoï ôû ñaáy. 10- __________ k- Boá meï vaø Hoa yeâu queâ höông Vieät Nam laém. 11- __________

EXCERCISE.-. 9. Read the English sentences, then write the bold sentences in correct Vietnamese possessive cases. Attention to personal pronouns. The people in italic are talking to you.

1- Grandma (to your mom’s side): Your dad. ________________________. 2- Your cousin (older brother): Your family. __________________________. 3- Your friend: Your aunt’s son. ___________________________________. 4- Your aunt (to your dad’s side): Our family. _________________________. 5- Family doctor talking to your grandpa’s : I don’t have your phone number.

______________________________. EXERCISE.-. 10. Give the correct answers to the following questions. Sometimes, please fill in correct personal pronouns. 1- (Wife): Mình ôi! - (Husband): _______, ______? 2- (Baø ngoaïi): Hoa ôi! - (Your uncle’s wife): _______, _____? 3- (Your friend is calling you by your name.): _____ ôi! (You, very informal): ________, _____? 4- (Your younger brother-in-law): ______, ôi! - (You): _______, ______? 5- (Your dad’s older brother): _____, ôi! - (Your mom): ______. ______? EXCERCISE.-.11. Family Tree Chart. Gia ñình hoï Nguyeãn. Look at the following family tree chart below carefully. Then answer to the questions. All words indicating relation among people must be written in Vietnamese. QUESTIONS.

1- Who were the ancestors of the family? 2- According to the chart, state 3 relations of Vuõ Baûo with the whole family.

3- How many grandkids do Nguyeãn Hai and Leâ thò Mai have? How many to

paternal side and to maternal side?

4- How many children do Nguyeãn Hai and Leâ thò Mai have?

5- What is the relation between Leâ thò Mai and Vuõ Mai Nga?

6- What should Nguyeãn Leâ Toâ call Vuõ Baûo and Nguyeãn thò Mai Hoa?

7- What is the relation between Vuõ Baûo and Traàn Leâ My?

8- If Vuõ Baûo talk to Traàn Leâ My, what should he call her and call himself?

9- Who is Nguyeãn Haø’s wife?

10- What is the relation between Nguyeãn Leâ Toâ and Vuõ Bình?

11- Vuõ Bình should call Toâ “anh” although Toâ is younger than Bình. What is the reason?

12- What is the relation between Nguyeãn Duõng and OÂng Baø Leâ Minh?

13- What should Nguyeãn Leâ Toâ call Nguyeãn Hai?

14- What is the relation between Nguyeãn Haø and Vuõ Baûo?

15- What is the relation between Leâ thò Mai and OÂng Baø Nguyeãn Khang?

OÂng Baø Nguyeãn Khang OÂng Baø Leâ Minh

Nguyeãn Hai

Traàn Leä My Nguyeãn Haø 38 tuoåi

Nguyeãn Duõng 30 tuoåi

Nguyeãn thò Mai Hoa 28 tuoåi

Vuõ Baûo

Nguyeãn Leâ Toâ 5 tuoåi

Vuõ Mai Nga 10 tuoåi

Vuõ Bình 8 tuoåi

Leâ thò Mai