Nghĩa là gì?

to be

Breakdown of Nghĩa là gì?

• gì: what
• nghĩa: the meaning

Questions & Answers about Nghĩa là gì?

What does each word in Nghĩa là gì? do?

• nghĩa = meaning
• là = is / to be
• gì = what

So the structure is basically Meaning is what? This is a very normal Vietnamese way to ask What does it mean?

Why is the word order different from English?

Vietnamese often keeps the question word in the place where the missing information would normally go.

In English, we move what to the front:

• What does it mean?

In Vietnamese, the equivalent idea stays in its normal position:

• Nghĩa là gì?
• literally: Meaning is what?

This is very common in Vietnamese:

• Bạn tên gì? = What is your name?
  literally: You named what?
• Bạn đi đâu? = Where are you going?
  literally: You go where?

Is là necessary here?

Usually yes, in this sentence.

Là links nghĩa and gì, like is in English. Without it, Nghĩa gì? would sound unnatural in most situations.

A very common fuller version is:

• =