# Xin: please / may I in Vietnamese (A1)

> Xin means "ask for", and in front of a verb it makes what you say humble and polite, a little like "may I" or "allow me".

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/xin-please/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**please / may I**

Pattern: `xin + [verb] · Cho + [person] + xin + [noun] · [person] + xin phép + [verb]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: polite

Situations: [At work](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?use=work) · [Shops and services](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?use=service)

*Xin* means "ask for", and in front of a verb it makes what you say humble and polite, a little like "may I" or "allow me". You'll know it from set phrases: *Xin lỗi* (sorry, excuse me; literally "ask forgiveness"), *Xin cảm ơn* (thank you, formally) and *Xin chào* (hello, formally).

*Xin lỗi* is everyday, but for hello and thanks people usually just say *Chào anh* or *Cảm ơn chị*; *Xin chào* sounds like a textbook or an announcement. You'll meet *xin* most in formal speech, notices and service: *Xin cảm ơn quý khách.* Thank you for your custom. On signs and in announcements, *xin* (often with *vui lòng*) asks others politely: *Xin vui lòng không hút thuốc.* Please don't smoke.

Before a noun, *xin* is the verb "ask for", and in daily speech it usually follows *cho em*: *Cho em xin cái muỗng.* Could I have a spoon, please? (in Hà Nội, *cái thìa*). *Xin phép* asks permission: *Em xin phép về trước.* Excuse me, I'll head off first.

*Cho em* on its own is the everyday way to ask for something; adding *xin* makes it humbler. *Mời* is different: it invites someone else to do something, as in *Mời anh ngồi*, please have a seat.

## Examples

- Saigon: Xin lỗi, em tới trễ. | Hà Nội: Xin lỗi, em đến muộn. — Sorry I'm late.
- Saigon: Cho em xin cái muỗng. | Hà Nội: Cho em xin cái thìa. — Could I have a spoon, please?
- Saigon: Em xin phép về trước nha. | Hà Nội: Em xin phép về trước nhé. — Excuse me, I'll head off first.
- Xin cảm ơn quý khách. — Thank you for your custom.

## Words in this pattern

- [xin](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/xin-ask/#s_xin_please): polite request

## Compare

- [Can I have / let me: Cho tôi / cho em + noun or verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cho-toi-let-me/): give me / let me
- [Please (inviting): Mời + person + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/moi-invite/): please (do)

Previous in Can, must, should, want: [Go on, do it / let's: verb + đi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/di-urge/)
Next in Can, must, should, want: [Want to: muốn + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/muon-want/)

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