English-Vietnamese translation please

This translation doesn't reflect your exact wording, but as your student is 10 years old, your meaning is more important than the word choice.

What is the name of this letter? = Đây là chữ gì?

What is the sound of this letter? = Chữ này phát âm như thế nào?

Listen to the sound this letter makes. = Nghe phát âm của chữ này.

Listen to the word I am about to say. = Nghe chữ tôi sắp nói đây.

The difference in meaning of 'lắng nghe' and 'nghe'?   It's the same difference as between 'listen' and 'hear'.  Lắng nghe = listen.  Nghe = hear.

Dear Ciambella,

Thank you so much! I tried using Google Translate but when I showed my student the translation he shook his head to indicate it didn't make sense (usually he smiles and nods).

In this sentence, which is the word for sound?
Chữ này phát âm như thế nào?

Sometimes I'd like to be able to point to a letter and say 'Sound?' (a quick way of asking 'What is the sound of this letter?).

I'd also like to be able to point to a letter and say 'Name?' (a quick way of asking 'What is the name of this letter?)

If I wanted a quick way to point to a letter and ask the letter name, could I say 'Tên?'

If I wanted to a quick way to point to a letter and ask the letter sound, could I say 'Âm thanh?

RiaCarte wrote:

I tried using Google Translate but when I showed my student the translation he shook his head to indicate it didn't make sense (usually he smiles and nods).

In this sentence, which is the word for sound?
Chữ này phát âm như thế nào?

Sometimes I'd like to be able to point to a letter and say 'Sound?' (a quick way of asking 'What is the sound of this letter?).

I'd also like to be able to point to a letter and say 'Name?' (a quick way of asking 'What is the name of this letter?)

I added the sentence to my last reply "This translation doesn't reflect your exact wording, but as your student is 10 years old, your meaning is more important than the word choice."  Your new question is the reason I translated it that way instead of a literal translation. 

Name:  tên.  However, you don't say 'Tên của chữ này là gì?' (What's the name of this letter?) because it doesn't sound right.  You simply ask, 'Đây là chữ gì?' (What's this letter?)

There are 2 reasons I gave you the translation 'Chữ này phát âm như thế nào?' (How is this word/letter pronounced?) instead of the literal translation 'Chữ này có âm thanh gì?' (How does this letter sound?)

1-  'Chữ' is Vietnamese for both 'word' and 'letter' (alphabet).  The translation you get from Google is 'thư' (mail)

2-  'Sound' is 'âm thanh' or 'tiếng động' (noise).  'Âm thanh của chữ' is a poor translation for 'the sound of a word/letter'.  Sound and pronunciation (phát âm) are very closely related, if not interchangeable to a Vietnamese student of foreign language.

RiaCarte wrote:

If I wanted a quick way to point to a letter and ask the letter name, could I say 'Tên?'

If I wanted to a quick way to point to a letter and ask the letter sound, could I say 'Âm thanh?

No to both.

For the first: 'Chữ gì?' (What's the letter?}

For the second: 'Phát âm?' (Pronounce?) or 'Đọc đi!' (Read!)

Sorry it can't be easier.

Thank you again, Ciambella. I am really appreciative of your explanation. Now I understand why the google translations didn't convey the 'meaning' of what I was trying to say.

My student will be thrilled with your new translations. He always beams when I'm able to communicate with him (accurately) in Vietnamese. He spends his school days in a sea of English words - it's the only language his classroom teacher and classmates speak. I can only imagine the relief he must feel when someone can communicate with him in his mother-tongue.

Thank you!

Maria

Ciambella wrote:

RiaCarte wrote:

If I wanted a quick way to point to a letter and ask the letter name, could I say 'Tên?'

If I wanted to a quick way to point to a letter and ask the letter sound, could I say 'Âm thanh?

No to both.

For the first: 'Chữ gì?' (What's the letter?}

For the second: 'Phát âm?' (Pronounce?) or 'Đọc đi!' (Read!)

Sorry it can't be easier.

Thank you. That's very helpful!

It's really lovely to see helpful cooperation on this forum, there are so many snarky comments and bad manners on the Internet generally, that I find this dialogue very refreshing. Thank you both.