Learn by grammar function
Emphasis in Vietnamese
Strengthen degree, narrow focus, and add rhetorical emphasis.
rất
very
rất is commonly used to mean "very" and is an essential Vietnamese structure for learners.
Món này rất ngon.
This dish is very delicious.
quá
too; very
quá is commonly used to mean "too" or "very" and is an essential Vietnamese structure for learners.
Món này ngon quá!
This dish is too delicious!
lắm
very; extremely
lắm is commonly used to mean "very" or "extremely" and is an essential Vietnamese structure for learners.
Cô ấy đẹp lắm.
She is very beautiful.
vô cùng
Very; Extremely
vô cùng is a more formal adverb of degree meaning "very" or "extremely."
Bài học này vô cùng quan trọng.
This lesson is very important.
hết sức
very; to the utmost
'hết sức' can express a high degree ('very') or indicate doing something with full effort ('to the utmost').
Vấn đề này hết sức quan trọng.
This issue is very important.
cực kỳ
extremely; super
'cực kỳ' expresses a very strong degree, similar to 'extremely' or 'super' in English.
Cấu trúc này cực kỳ phổ biến.
This structure is extremely common.
đặc biệt là
especially; particularly
'đặc biệt là' is used to highlight a particularly important item from a group or list.
Tôi muốn luyện phát âm, đặc biệt là thanh điệu.
I want to practice pronunciation, especially the tones.
nhất là
especially; particularly
nhất là is used to highlight the most notable item, similar to "especially" in English.
Tôi thích học tiếng Việt, nhất là ngữ pháp.
I like learning Vietnamese, especially grammar.
rất là
very; really
rất là is a colloquial intensifier of rất, meaning "very" or "really."
Bài này rất là dễ hiểu.
This lesson is really easy to understand.
biết bao
how (much); so (much)
biết bao is used in exclamations to emphasize "how..." or "so much..."
Tiếng Việt thú vị biết bao!
Vietnamese is so interesting!
làm sao
How (emphatic); So (emphatic)
When placed after an adjective, làm sao expresses strong emotion, similar to "how..." or "so..." in English.
Câu hát này hay làm sao!
How wonderful this song lyric is!
quá chừng
Very; Too much
Quá chừng is a colloquial intensifier indicating a very high degree, often meaning "very" or "super."
Bài này khó quá chừng.
This lesson is extremely difficult.
thật
really; truly
Thật expresses "really" or "truly" to emphasize feelings or judgments.
Món này ngon thật!
This dish is really delicious!
đúng là
Really is; Indeed is
'đúng là' is used to confirm or emphasize a judgment, similar to 'really is' or 'indeed is' in English.
Đúng là tiếng Việt không dễ.
Vietnamese really is not easy.
ngay cả
Even
'ngay cả' means 'even', used to emphasize an unexpected or surprising inclusion.
Ngay cả giáo viên cũng không biết câu trả lời.
Even the teacher doesn't know the answer.
đến cả
Even
'đến cả' also means 'even', often with a stronger or more colloquial tone than 'ngay cả'.
Đến cả trẻ con cũng hiểu câu này.
Even children understand this sentence.
cả ... cũng
Even; Also
'cả ... cũng' expresses 'even' or 'also', emphasizing inclusion of a particular person or thing.
Cả anh ấy cũng đồng ý.
Even he agrees.
mới
Only just; Just now; Only after
'mới' can mean 'only just' or 'just now', often emphasizing a late time, small quantity, or occurrence only after a condition is met.
Tôi mới đến.
I just arrived.
đã
Already; To the extent of
'đã' not only indicates completion but also emphasizes that something happened earlier than expected, with less quantity or under insufficient conditions.
Mới sáu giờ mà trời đã tối.
It's only six o'clock but it's already dark.
chỉ
Only; Just
'chỉ' limits the scope, similar to English 'only' or 'just'.
Tôi chỉ học tiếng Việt.
I only study Vietnamese.
mỗi
Each; Only (in colloquial use)
'mỗi' can mean 'each' or, in some colloquial contexts, express limitation similar to 'only' or 'just'.
Mỗi ngày tôi học một ít.
I study a little every day.
tận
As far as; As many as; Even up to
'tận' emphasizes a great distance, long time, or large quantity, similar to English expressions like 'as far as', 'as many as', or 'even up to'.
Anh ấy đi tận Hà Nội để gặp bạn.
He went all the way to Hanoi to meet a friend.
hẳn
Clearly; Completely; Certainly
'hẳn' can express a clear degree or a strong assumption, similar to English 'clearly', 'completely', or 'certainly'.
Cách nói này khác hẳn tiếng Anh.
This way of speaking is completely different from English.
không ngờ là
Unexpectedly; Did not expect
'không ngờ là' expresses surprise or an unexpected result, meaning 'did not expect that'.
Không ngờ là câu này khó như vậy.
I didn't expect this sentence to be so difficult.
tôi nói thật đấy
I'm telling the truth; I'm not joking
The phrase tôi nói thật đấy is used to emphasize that what you say is true.
Tôi nói thật đấy, câu này rất hay dùng.
I'm telling the truth, this sentence is very commonly used.
nghĩ mà xem
Think about it
Nghĩ mà xem is used to ask the listener to think, strengthening the speaker's persuasion.
Nghĩ mà xem, dịch từng chữ làm sao tự nhiên được.
Think about it, translating word-for-word can never sound natural.