The Role of Han-Nom (Sinitic
Vietnamese & Nom Script) in
Teaching Vietnamese
Hy Van Do (Vietnam National University)
Tram Hoan Thuc Ly (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Outline
 Introduction:
 The development of writing language system in
Vietnamese history
 The role of Han Viet in modern Vietnamese
 The key notions
 The role of Han Nom (Sinitic Vietnamese and Nom
script) in Vietnamese:
 Grammar
 Lexicon
 Culture
 Conclusion:
Introduction (1)
 The development of writing language system in
Vietnamese history:
 The popularity of Chinese as writing language in East Asian area
 Today, in China, the only common writing language system is
pronounced by many different local phonetics.
 Because of historical condition and cultural interaction, Chinese
influxes into Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The result is that the same
Chinese character can be read in Korean pronunciation (漢朝),
Japanese pronunciation (漢和) or Vietnamese pronunciation (漢越）.
 The influx of Chinese into Vietnam
 Language interaction between China and Vietnam began more than
two thousand years ago.
 More than one thousand years, Chinese was official language in
Vietnam. Both of the systems of writing and phonetics are the same as
the ones in China.
 When Vietnam separated from China in the year of 938A.D., Chinese
was still used in education, examination and administration .
Introduction (2)
 The birth of Sinitic Vietnamese (Han Viet)
 The language interaction between Vietnam and China was
interrupted after Vietnamese separation.
 The system of Han Viet lexicon and phonetics was formed.
 The birth of Nom script
 Nom script is established by Vietnamese to write Non-Han Viet
words.
 Nom script was used to create literature from 939 to 1945.
 The Romanization of Vietnamese
 Vietnamese was Romanized in the interaction with Western
civilization from the 19th century.
 Romanized Vietnamese (Quoc ngu) was popular in the 20th
century and became official writing system after 1945.
A Vietnamese tombstone in the 15th century (written
in Chinese, downloading in: http://dantri.com.vn/c20/s20-319729/phat-hien-2-tambia-co-thoi-le-so.htm)
The cover of a Vietnamese book edited in 1877
(written in Chinese, downloading in: www.giaphahongodapcau.com/)
Kim Vân Kiều tân truyện (the 18th century) (downloading
in: http://sea.lib.niu.edu/nlvnpf/image.php?id=43&img=1:)
The correspondence between Nom script and
Quoc ngu (extract from The Tale of Kieu by
Nguyen Du)
戨鐭頪帀篵膯
船埃濕倘歳帆賒賒
戨鐭彮搩買沙
花粇蔓莫別卥駆兜
戨鐭內礊油油
觮詸炦坦沒牟籑籑
戨鐭闧捲炦揷
喑喑曢夲叫觥皼憹
Buồn trông cửa bể chiều hôm,
Thuyền ai thấp thoáng cánh buồm xa xa.
Buồn trông ngọn nước mới sa,
Hoa trôi man mác biết là về đâu?
Buồn trông nội cỏ dàu dàu,
Chân mây mặt đất một màu xanh xanh.
Buồn trông gió cuốn mặt duềnh,
Ầm ầm tiếng sóng kêu quanh ghế ngồi.
Introduction (3)
 The role of Han Viet in modern Vietnamese
 Han Viet words cover from 60% to 70% modern Vietnamese vocabulary.
 The misunderstanding and using Vietnamese essentially come from Han
Viet words.
 Han Viet in teaching Vietnamese:
 It can help the learner overcome the confusion of numerous homophony.
 Han Viet characters with their images and tales excite the learner.
 The key notions:
 Han Viet (Sinitic Vietnamese): Chinese character in Vietnamese
pronunciation (now Han Viet was Romanized already, Chinese character is
no more exist in Vietnamese writing system)
 Nom: Vietnamese script
 Quoc ngu: Romanized Vietnamese
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(1)

Grammar:

The unique structure of Han Viet words and their accuracy in
expression:


The connection between morphemes in Han Viet words is strict and
dependable. In general, the minor precedes the major.
Because of their strict grammatical relation, Han Viet words are more
accurate than their non-Han Viet synonyms.
 EX: Xạ thủ Đặng Thị Đông
Người bắn Đặng Thị Đông

The popularity of Han Viet functional words in grammatical
system: Han Viet covers one-third of Vietnamese functional
words, including:

Preposition:




Preposition of place: tại (ở) (at, in, on)
Preposition of time: từ (from)
Preposition of limit: trừ (besides, except)
Preposition of cause, purpose: do, vị (vì), tại (bởi) (because of, due to)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(2)

Conjunction:









Conjunction of unite relation: và (hòa), cùng (and)
Conjunction of concession: tuy, tuy vậy (though, although)
Conjunction of reason: bởi vì (because)
Conjunction of choice: hoặc – hay; hoặc giả – hay là... (or,
either…or…)
Conjunction of cause and effect relation: Sở dĩ... là vì...(so,
therefore, as a result)
Conjunction of presupposition: giả sử → giá như; thảng hoặc (if,
supposing, in case)
Conjunction of conditional relation: trừ phi, bất luận, vô
luận...(unless, no matter what/who/how, whether…or.., in any
case)
Conjunction of oppositional relation (between two actions, status,
characteristics): tuy, tuy nhiên (however)
Conjunction of enumeration: thí như → thí dụ (for instance, for
example)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(3)
 Adverb:
 Adverb of time: đang (đương), lập tức, tức khắc …(at
once, immediately)
 Adverb of progress: thường, thường thường, tái … (often,
usually, again)
 Adverb of limit: cơ hồ, độc, duy, bất quá,chuyên, chỉ
(almost, only, nevertheless, especially)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(4)
 Lexicon: the most important field
 The structure:
 The formula “major + minor” is popular in Non-Han Viet words
 EX: truyện (tale) + Kiều (proper name)
phần (ware) + mềm (soft)
 Sometimes, there are parallel existence of “major + minor” structure in
Non-Han Viet words with “minor + major” structure in Han Viet words
 EX: Kim Vân Kiều Truyện // Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kieu)
nhu liệu // phần mềm (software)
hàng không mẫu hạm // tàu sân bay (aircraft carrier)
 In most of the case, Han Viet word only exists in the structure of “minor
+ major”
 EX: Chinh phụ ngâm khúc (Song of a General's Lady)
vi mô (micro)
vĩ mô (macro)
tin học (information science)
toán học (mathematics)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(5)

The classification of Han Viet words

Basing on the origin of the morpheme:






Words are imported the whole character and meaning from Chinese and
read in Han Viet pronunciation. EX: cộng hòa 共和 (republic), độc lập 獨
立 (independence), hạnh phúc 幸福 (happiness)
Words are imported from Chinese and read in Han Viet pronunciation but
have some change in the meaning. EX: phương tiện方便 (Chinese: easy,
Vietnamese: way, tool)
Words are established by Vietnamese by combining two Chinese original
morphemes. EX: thành phố (city)
Words are established by Vietnamese by combining a Chinese original
morpheme with a Vietnamese one. EX: thầy giáo 教 (teacher), ăn gian 奸
Words are established by Vietnamese by combining a Chinese original
morpheme with an European one. EX: trưởng ga (the chief of the station)
(長：Chinese, ga: gare-French)
Words are established by Vietnamese by combining Han Viet morpheme
pronounced in Han Viet pronunciation with a morpheme pronounced
either in ancient Han Viet or Vietnamized Han Viet. EX: câu cú (sentence)
（câu: Vietnamized Han Viet = cú: Han Viet pronunciation = 句), mùi vị
(flavor) (mùi: ancient Han Viet = vị: Han Viet pronunciation = 味).
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(6)
 Basing on the used context
 Words in everyday language
 The mixture of Han Viet words and Non-Han Viet words in
some categories.
 EX: Category of body:
Han Viet words: đầu (head), thân (body), tứ chi (four
arms), mi (eyelashes), mày (eyebrows), đồng tử (pupil), gan
(liver), tim (heart), thận (kidney), bàng quang (bladder), cơ
bắp (muscle)
Viet-Muong words: bàn chân (foot), đầu gối (knee), da
(skin), óc (brain), thịt (flesh)
Viet-Monkhmer words: tóc (hair), mặt (face), mắt (eye),
mũi (nose), răng (tooth), lưỡi (tongue), cổ (neck), lưng (back),
tay (arm), chân (leg), máu (blood), xương (bone), cằm (chin)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(7)
Category of personal pronoun:
Han Viet words: ông (grandfather), bà (grandmother)
Non-Han Viet words: cô (aunt), chị (sister), anh
(brother), em (younger brother/sister)
“Tôi, ta, anh, nó” (I, you, he/she) are singular personal
pronouns in Vietnamese. These words combine with Han Viet
plural indicator “chúng, các” to be “chúng tôi, chúng ta, chúng
nó …” and “các anh, các chị, các mẹ …”
Category of height: cao (tall, high) is Han Viet word but
thấp (short) is Non-Han Viet word
Category of location:
Non-Han Viet words: làng (village), xóm (hamlet), bản
(mountain village), nước (country)
Han Viet words: thôn (hamlet), xã (hamlet), huyện
(district), tỉnh (province), quốc gia (nation)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(8)
 Words in academic language
 The amount of Han Viet words in academic language, especially in legal document, is much
more than in everyday language.
 Example in literature:
Hồ công quyết kế thừa cơ
Lễ tiên binh hậu khắc cờ tập công
(The Tale of Kieu, Nguyễn Du)
(Lord Ho conceived a ruse to snatch this chance:
behind the screen of gifts he’d poise his troops.) (translated by Huynh Sanh Thong)
 Example in legal document: (the highlight words are not Han Viet words): Chánh Văn phòng,
Vụ trưởng Vụ Giáo dục Đại học, thủ trưởng các đơn vị có liên quan thuộc Bộ Giáo dục và
Đào tạo, Thủ trưởng các cơ sở giáo dục được giao nhiệm vụ đào tạo trình độ thạc sĩ chịu
trách nhiệm thi hành Quyết định này. ./(Quyết định Ban hành Quy chế đào tạo trình độ thạc
sĩ, 05 tháng 8 năm 2008)
(The Chief of the Secretariat, the chief of University Education Bureau, the chief of the
concerned units belonging to the Ministry of Education and Training, and the chief of
educational units providing master program have responsibility to carry out this decision.)
(Decision to promulgate the regulation of training master level, 08/05/2008)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(9)
 Example in newspaper: Thị trường ngoại tệ lại có dấu hiệu
căng thẳng, nhiều doanh nghiệp khó mua được ngoại tệ từ
các ngân hàng thương mại. Tuy nhiên, Ngân hàng Nhà nước
(NHNN) tiếp tục khẳng định ổn định chính sách tỷ giá và công
bố các con số khả quan về cán cân ngoại hối.
(http://www.vietnamnet.vn/kinhte/2009/07/857326/)
(There is a sign of tension in the market of foreign currency
again. It is difficult to exchange foreign currency in commercial
banks for many businesses. However, the Governmental
Bank still confirms the stability of the rate policy and
announces satisfactory numbers of the balance of the
exchange rate)
 The popularity of Han Viet idioms




Cung chúc tân xuân (Happy new year)
Dĩ hòa vi quí (Concord is good)
Vạn sự khởi đầu nan (Everything begins difficultly)
Bất khả xâm phạm (No way to involve)
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(10)
 Culture:
 Former President Bill Clinton’s speech in his official visit to Vietnam in the year 2000:
 “As the tale of Kieu foretold, "Just as the lotus wilts, the mums bloom forth; time softens
grief, and the winter turns to spring." Now the frozen images of the past have begun to thaw.
The outlines of a warmer shared future have begun to take shape. Let us make the most of
this new spring together.“
(Như Truyện Kiều đã nói: "Sen tàn cúc lại nở hoa, sầu dài ngày ngắn đông đà sang xuân".
Nay những ký ức băng giá về quá khứ đã bắt đầu tan. Những phác thảo của một tương lai
ấm áp chung đã bắt đầu hình thành. Cùng nhau, chúng ta hãy tận hưởng mùa xuân mới
này.)
(http://usembassy.state.gov/vietnam/wwwhta41.html)
 Citation from The Tale of Kieu: (the highlight words are Han Viet wrds)
“Sen tàn cúc lại nở hoa
Sầu dài ngày ngắn đông đà sang xuân”
 The change in nature is a metaphor for the change in official relation between the US and
Vietnam.
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(11)
 Dạ cổ hoài lang (Hearing a drum at night, thinking of the
husband): is the most famous traditional song in
Southern Vietnam.
 Từ là từ phu tướng. Bảo kiếm sắc phong lên đàng. Vào ra luống
trông tin chàng. Năm canh mơ màng. Em luống trông tin chàng.
Ôi gan vàng quặn đau í… a...
Đường dù xa ong bướm. Xin đó đừng phụ nghĩa tào khang.
Đêm luống trông tin nhạn (bạn). Ngày mỏi mòn như đá vọng
phu. Vọng phu vọng luống trông tin chàng. Lòng xin chớ phụ
phàng (Sao nỡ phụ phàng).
Chàng hỡi (là) chàng có hay. Đêm thiếp nằm luống những sầu
tây. Bao thưở đó đây sum vầy. Duyên sắt cầm đừng lạt phai í…
a…Là nguyện cho chàng. (Đặng) Hai chữ an bình an. Mau trở
lại gia đàng. Cho én nhạn hiệp đôi í... a…
The role of Han Nom in Vietnamese
(12)
 In term of language, the song includes 116 syllables (with 46
Han Viet syllables), in which there is 31 Han Viet morpheme
(forming 22 Han Viet words). The song expresses three of the
most important Vietnamese cultural features: marriage love in
family relation, the moods of faithfulness and love in war. These
cultural features are focused in the Han Viet words.
 Illustration:
 The color of Vietnamese culture in some images referred by Han
Viet words in the song
 The performance of the song by an amateur singer in communal
house in a Vietnamese village
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egF6V95Yc6A)
 The song’s content in a clip
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaKacW8iPNU)
Sắc phong (imperial order)
Vọng phu (looking forward to see
the husband): The mountain in
Lang Son province with the
shape of a wife carrying a baby
to wait for her husband
Gia đàng (household in general)
Conclusion of the role of Han Nom in
teaching Vietnamese (1)
 The homophony in Han Viet words is rather popular (even
in Chinese pronunciation). So a word need to be put into a
specific context, sometimes need to be written in Chinese
character, to avoid misunderstanding.
 "phi" (飛) = "bay" (fly) vs. "phi" (非) = "không“(not), "ngoại
trừ“ (except)
 “tử“ (子) = "con" (son/daughter) vs. "tử" (死) = "chết“(die)
 The Romanized Vietnamese (Quoc ngu) is easy to learn
and memorize but it could not separate numerous
homophone words which have different meanings. So
many words is used in the wrong way. Sometimes, the
mistake becomes so popular that it can be officially
accepted.
小small; tiny; few; young; (xiao ).flv
Conclusion of the role of Han Nom in
teaching Vietnamese (2)
 Han Nom was not taught and learnt popularly after the birth of Quoc
ngu. Therefore, many Vietnamese generations today could not read
any documents in the thousands years legacy of the Vietnamese
ancestors. They could not clearly understand and accurately use
Vietnamese as its real meaning because about 70% Vietnamese is
formed by Han Viet morphemes.
 There are many popular Han Viet words in everyday life, but many
Vietnamese do not know. For example, “tiểu” means “pee”. The
Chinese character is a symbol of the penis. Using the penis means
“going to the bathroom”. If the teacher can connect the sound “tiểu”
with the action “going to the bathroom”, the learner will be very excited.
And then because “tiểu” is Han Viet words, belonging to Confucianists
and mandarin, it has the rhetoric meaning of classic, politeness. The
normal people use it for both man and woman in polite context. (To be
different from the following explaining film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TC4oIkxM3E&NR=1).