In Vietnamese culture, it is respectful to address an aunt as “cô” followed by her first name. The term “cô” is used for both older and younger female relatives who are in the same generation as your parents.
In Vietnamese culture, it is respectful to address an aunt as “cô” followed by her first name. The term “cô” is used for both older and younger female relatives who are in the same generation as your parents. This is a common way of addressing aunts in Vietnam and shows respect and acknowledgment of their age and relationship to you.
Here are some interesting facts about Vietnamese culture and family relationships:
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Importance of Family: Family plays a central role in Vietnamese culture, and there is a strong emphasis on respect and filial piety towards elders. Addressing relatives with appropriate titles and showing respect is highly valued.
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Complex Kinship Terms: Vietnamese kinship terms are more complex compared to the English language, with different words used to address relatives based on their age, gender, and relationship to the speaker. These terms reflect the importance of hierarchical relationships within the family.
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Age Hierarchy: Vietnamese culture places significant importance on age and seniority. Older family members are highly respected and hold authority within the family. Younger generations follow specific etiquettes to show deference to their elders.
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Confucian Influence: Vietnamese culture is greatly influenced by Confucianism, which emphasizes respect for elders and hierarchical relationships. This influence can be seen in the use of kinship terms and the importance placed on family and filial piety.
Adding a quote to enrich the context:
“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox
Table:
Kinship Term | Translation | Usage |
---|---|---|
Cô | Aunt | Addressing an aunt (same generation as parents) |
Bác | Aunt/Uncle | Addressing an aunt/uncle (one generation above) |
Anh/Chị | Older brother/sister | Addressing older siblings or older relatives |
Em | Younger sibling | Addressing younger siblings or younger relatives |
A video response to “How do you address a Vietnamese aunt?”
In the YouTube video “VIET 101: How to address your “Aunt” & “Uncle”,” the hosts discuss the different terms used to address aunts and uncles in Vietnamese. They explain that the terms vary depending on whether the aunt or uncle is from the father’s side or the mother’s side of the family. Older siblings from the father’s side are called “Bác,” while younger brothers are called “Chú” and younger sisters are called “Cô.” On the mother’s side, older siblings are also referred to as “Bác,” while younger brothers are called “Gào” and younger sisters are called “Yêu.”
There are alternative points of view
Cô – aunt, specifically father’s younger sister (pronounced like coh with a long-o) Dì – aunt, mother’s younger sister (pronounced like zee with a down-tone) Chú – dad’s younger brother (pronounced chu? with an up-tone)
Here is a simple list of the words for uncle and auntie in Vietnamese:
- Cô – aunt, specifically father’s younger sister (pronounced like coh with a long- o)
- Dì – aunt, mother’s younger sister (pronounced like zee with a down-tone)
- Chú – dad’s younger brother (pronounced chu? with an up-tone)
- Cậu – mom’s younger brother (pronounced cow! with a short down-tone)
- Bác – sex-neutral older uncle or order auntie, for older siblings on either side.
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- Parents: Cha mẹ
- Father: Cha, bố/thầy (NV), bọ (CV), ba/tía (SV)
- Mother: Mẹ, u (NV), mạ/mệ (CV), má (SV)
- Daughter: Con gái.
- Son: Con trai.
- Older sister: Chị gái.
- Younger sister: Em gái.
- Older brother: Anh trai.
Chào cô is often used when you need to greet someone who is old enough to be your "aunt". In another word, use chào cô to greet a woman who is in the same generation as your parents. In a Vietnamese family, cô is used to call an aunt.