Word
Phanh không ổn.
Meaning
The brake is not okay.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
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Questions & Answers about Phanh không ổn.
Why is there no word for is/are in Phanh không ổn?
Vietnamese often does not use a copula in sentences where English would use to be before an adjective.
So:
- Phanh = brake / brakes
- không ổn = not okay / not good / not right
Literally, it is structured like:
- brake not okay
That is completely normal Vietnamese. You do not need a word equivalent to is here.
What does ổn mean in this sentence?
Ổn is a very common word meaning things like:
- okay
- fine
- stable
- all right
- in acceptable condition
In Phanh không ổn, it means the brake is not functioning properly, not in good condition, or not okay.
It is a bit broad, so the exact English translation depends on context:
- The brakes aren’t okay.
- The brake is not working properly.
- Something is wrong with the brakes.
Why is không placed before ổn?
In Vietnamese, không usually goes the word or phrase it negates.