🇻🇳 Vietnamese phrases

How to Say "I don't understand" in Vietnamese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Tôi không hiểu
"I don't understand" in Vietnamese · say it like toy kong hee-oo

The most natural way to say "I don't understand" in Vietnamese is Tôi không hiểu. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Mình không hiểu
More casual, often used among friends
Tôi không rõ
Slightly more formal, used in professional settings

When to use it

You can use this phrase when someone is explaining something and you find it confusing. It is polite to express that you do not understand. It can be used in both formal and informal situations.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "I don't understand" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Vietnamese

VietnameseEnglish
Xin lỗi, tôi không hiểu điều này.Sorry, I do not understand this.
Common mistake
A common mistake is to use 'hiểu' without 'không', which changes the meaning to 'I understand'.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Tôi không hiểu, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Vietnamese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

How can I ask someone to explain something again?

You can say 'Bạn có thể giải thích lại không?' which means 'Can you explain it again?'

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