Keeping it going
She has answered you twice and is still there. You have not asked yet.
How to say “What's your name?” in Vietnamese
Em tên gì?
em ten zee
Rough sound, not the tones. Short sentence, and smile.
literally: you name what
Safe
Why it works
Three syllables, and it turns a stranger into a conversation. Give yours first if you want to sound less like a survey: 'Anh tên Eric. Còn em?'
What she says back
- Em tên Linh.Green light
I'm Linh.
→ Repeat it back once, out loud. Getting her name right is worth more than any clever line.
- Chi hỏi làm gì?Could go either way
Why do you ask?
→ Laugh and say 'Anh tên Eric, tự nhiên thôi' (I'm Eric, just being friendly).
Then. anh-ten-con-em