vô liêm sỉ
What does vô liêm sỉ mean? vô liêm sỉ is a Vietnamese strong that translates to “shameless / without integrity” in English.
Literal Translation
without integrity shame
Meaning & Usage
"shameless / without integrity"
A formal-sounding condemnation that's actually a vicious insult. 'Liêm sỉ' combines integrity ('liêm') and shame ('sỉ') — Confucian virtues that form the bedrock of a moral person. To lack both is to be morally bankrupt in every dimension.
Examples in the Wild
Commenting on a public scandal: 'Bọn vô liêm sỉ! Ăn cắp tiền dân mà không biết xấu hổ!' (Shameless scum! Stealing people's money without any embarrassment!)
When to Use It
Context
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
This is the insult of choice for educated Vietnamese people. Professors use it about corrupt politicians. Journalists write it in opinion columns. It sounds intellectual and carries the weight of Confucian moral philosophy, which somehow makes it worse than cruder insults — it's not an emotional outburst, it's a considered ethical judgment. The Sino-Vietnamese roots give it an almost legal formality.
More in Vietnamese 🇻🇳
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“fag / queer”
Derived from the French word 'pédéraste'. It is the most ubiquitous term for a gay man or an effeminate male in Vietnam.
đm
“fuck / wtf”
The texting abbreviation of 'đụ má.' Two letters that every Vietnamese person under 40 can decode instantly. It's become so ubiquitous in online spaces that it functions less as profanity and more as punctuation — surprise, frustration, emphasis, even approval.
xạo lồn
“bullshitting / talking out of your ass”
Lying, boasting, or fabricating stories to look impressive. 'Xạo' means lying/fake; 'lồn' is added purely as an aggressive metric of magnitude.
mẹ mày
“your mother / fuck you”
Just two words — 'your mother' — but in Vietnamese, this is a complete insult. You don't need to specify what about their mother. The implication hangs in the air, and everyone fills in the worst possible meaning. It's the loaded gun of Vietnamese profanity: the trigger is pulled by context.
địt mẹ
“motherfucker / fuck your mother”
Northern Vietnamese equivalent of 'đụ má.' Uses formal 'mẹ' instead of casual 'má,' making it more severe. The gravest insult in Vietnamese culture.
địt mẹ mày
“fuck your mother / motherfucker”
The full Northern form with the target pronoun attached. If 'địt mẹ' is a grenade, adding 'mày' is pulling the pin and throwing it directly at someone's face. This isn't venting frustration — this is declaring war.
vl
“holy shit / very / wow”
Texting abbreviation for 'vãi lồn.' Expresses surprise or intensity.
bố láo
“insolent / cocky piece of shit”
Someone who acts arrogantly above their station. It literally combines 'father' (bố) with 'insolent/fake' (láo), implying someone is illegitimately claiming the authority of a father figure.