# Hơi: a bit in Vietnamese (A1)

> Hơi before an adjective means "a bit" or "slightly": hơi cay (a bit spicy), hơi xa (a bit far).

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hoi-a-bit/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**a bit**

Pattern: `hơi + [adjective]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: hoi

*Hơi* before an adjective means "a bit" or "slightly": *hơi cay* (a bit spicy), *hơi xa* (a bit far). It also goes before words for feelings: *hơi mệt* (a bit tired), *hơi lo* (a bit worried).

It's most often used when something is a little too much or not quite right, which makes it the gentle way to complain: *Áo này hơi mắc.* This shirt is a bit expensive (in Hà Nội, *hơi đắt*). Choosing *hơi* over *quá* keeps a complaint polite. *Một chút* at the end softens it further: *Canh hơi mặn một chút.*

For praise, use *khá* (quite): *khá ngon* rather than *hơi ngon*. Young people do put *hơi bị* before a good word as slang for "really": *hơi bị đẹp*, really good-looking.

*Hơi* goes before adjectives and words for states or feelings, like *mệt*, *lo* or *giống* (alike), not before action verbs. For a small amount, or doing something a little, use *một chút* or *một ít* after the verb: *ăn một chút*, eat a little.

## A common mistake

✗ Phở này hơi ngon.

✓ Phở này khá ngon.

*Hơi ngon* sounds odd or half-joking to most speakers, because *hơi* usually marks something a bit off. For praise, use *khá*.

## Examples

- Saigon: Áo này hơi mắc. | Hà Nội: Áo này hơi đắt. — This shirt is a bit expensive.
- Món này hơi cay. — This dish is a bit spicy.
- Hôm nay em hơi mệt. — I'm a bit tired today.
- Canh hơi mặn một chút. — The soup is a little salty.

## Words in this pattern

- [hơi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/hoi-a-little/#lx_hoi_bit): a little

## Compare

- [Quite, fairly: khá + adjective](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/kha-quite/): quite
- [A little: một ít, một chút, một tí](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mot-it-a-little/): a little (amount)

Next in How much, and comparing: [As … as: bằng / như](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bang-nhu-as-as/)

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