Vietnamese 'bao lâu' Usage (How long?)
'bao lâu' is used to ask about the duration of time.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'bao lâu' is used to ask about the duration of time.
English meanings
- How long?
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
How long have you been studying Vietnamese?
2
Bao lâu thì có kết quả?
How long until there is a result?
How to use it
'bao lâu' asks about how long something lasts, not about a specific time point. It is usually placed after the verb or used with 'bao lâu thì' to ask how long until something happens.
- Asks about duration of time.
- Often used with 'rồi' to ask how long up to now.
- Different from 'mấy giờ' which asks about specific time.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, 'how long' can appear at the beginning of a question. In Vietnamese, 'bao lâu' often stays after the verb phrase, e.g., 'học bao lâu'.
Common mistakes
Bao lâu bạn học tiếng Việt rồi?
Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
'bao lâu' is usually placed after the verb phrase when asking duration.
Bạn đến bao lâu?
Bạn đến lúc mấy giờ?
To ask what time someone arrives, use 'lúc mấy giờ' instead of 'bao lâu'.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'bao lâu'?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'bao lâu'?
- Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
- Bao lâu bạn học tiếng Việt rồi?
- Bạn đến bao lâu?
Answer: Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
Explanation: Asks about duration of time.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Bạn học tiếng Việt ____ rồi?
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Bạn học tiếng Việt ____ rồi?
Answer: Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
Explanation: Asks about duration of time.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "How long have you been studying Vietnamese?" into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "How long have you been studying Vietnamese?" into Vietnamese.
Answer: Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
Explanation: Use bao lâu in the same structure as the example.
True or false
The position of 'bao lâu' can be moved to the beginning of the sentence like English question words.
Show answer
True or false
The position of 'bao lâu' can be moved to the beginning of the sentence like English question words.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese question particles usually stay in their original grammatical position, especially words like 'ai', 'gì', 'đâu', 'bao lâu'.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Bao lâu bạn học tiếng Việt rồi?
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Bao lâu bạn học tiếng Việt rồi?
Answer: Bạn học tiếng Việt bao lâu rồi?
Explanation: 'bao lâu' is usually placed after the verb phrase when asking duration.