I heard that: nghe nói
I've heard that
Pattern: (person) + nghe nói + [sentence]
Typed without accents: nghe noi
Nghe nói, literally "hear say", passes on something you've heard but haven't seen for yourself: Nghe nói quán này ngon lắm. I've heard this place is really good. The news follows straight after, with no word for "that".
Who heard it is often left out, because it's clear. You can add it at the front: Em nghe nói chị sắp đi Mỹ hả? I hear you're off to America soon? To say who told you, put that person between nghe and nói: Em nghe anh Minh nói chị mới chuyển nhà. Minh told me you've just moved.
Nghe nói keeps a little distance: it's what people say, and you're not vouching for it. Nghe đồn (rumour has it) keeps even more.
Plain nghe is "listen", and nghe thấy is "hear" a sound. Nghe nói is only for news passed on by word of mouth. In the news, reporters use cho biết to say who gave the information.
Examples
Highlighted words are what Saigon and Hà Nội say differently.
-
Nghe nói quán này ngon lắm.
I've heard this place is really good.
-
Saigon
Em nghe nói chị sắp đi Mỹ hả?
Hà Nội
Em nghe nói chị sắp đi Mỹ à?
I hear you're going to America soon?
-
Em nghe anh Minh nói chị mới chuyển nhà.
Minh told me you've just moved.
-
Nghe nói mai trời mưa lớn.
I heard it's going to rain heavily tomorrow.