Vietnamese cái mà Usage (The thing that... / What... is)
"cái mà" nominalizes the following content, often introducing "the thing that..."
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
"cái mà" nominalizes the following content, often introducing "the thing that..."
English meanings
- The thing that...
- What... is
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
What I need is time.
2
Cái mà bạn nói rất quan trọng.
What you said is very important.
How to use it
"cái mà" is commonly used in spoken Vietnamese and explanations to turn an action or content into a topic, with the real focus explained afterward.
- Nominalizes the following content.
- Usually followed by "là" to introduce the focus.
- Very natural in spoken language.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, "What I need is time" often lacks explicit nominalization; Vietnamese uses "cái mà tôi cần là thời gian" to nominalize and highlight the focus.
Common mistakes
Tôi cần cái mà là thời gian.
Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
"cái mà" is followed by a modifying clause, then "là" introduces the focus.
Cái tôi cần mà là thời gian.
Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
The fixed expression keeps "mà" after "cái".
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses cái mà?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses cái mà?
- Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
- Tôi cần cái mà là thời gian.
- Cái tôi cần mà là thời gian.
Answer: Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
Explanation: Nominalizes the content.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ tôi cần là thời gian.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ tôi cần là thời gian.
Answer: Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
Explanation: Nominalizes the content.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "What I need is time." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "What I need is time." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
Explanation: Use cái mà in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi cần cái mà là thời gian.
Show answer
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi cần cái mà là thời gian.
Answer: False
Explanation: "cái mà" is followed by a modifying clause, then "là" introduces the focus.
Correction
Correct the sentence: Tôi cần cái mà là thời gian.
Show answer
Correction
Correct the sentence: Tôi cần cái mà là thời gian.
Answer: Cái mà tôi cần là thời gian.
Explanation: "cái mà" is followed by a modifying clause, then "là" introduces the focus.