Learn Hardcore Vietnamese: Tôi rất vui.

Yes, it is a complete sentence in Vietnamese. Tôi means I, rất means very, and vui means happy. Vietnamese doesn’t require a separate verb like “to be,” so Tôi rất vui literally translates to I very happy, which is correct and natural in Vietnamese.

Why do we use "rất" instead of other words for "very"?

Rất is a common adverb to intensify the adjective in Vietnamese. It’s similar to very in English. While there are other intensifiers like lắm, thật, or cực kỳ, rất is the most straightforward and neutral option for emphasizing the adjective.

Is "Tôi" always the best choice for "I"?

Tôi is the most neutral and polite way to say I in Vietnamese, but there are other pronouns too — for example, mình, tao, anh, em, etc., depending on the context and relationship with the listener. For beginners and formal contexts, sticking to Tôi is usually safe.

How do I pronounce "Tôi rất vui" accurately?

• Tôi: Pronounce it like toy in English, but keep the tone level (no rising or falling).
• rất: A short, sharp “r” sound, followed by a short “ât” (rhyming with “uh” in hut).
• vui: Sounds like “voo-ee,” but blended quickly, almost like one syllable vwee.