Vietnamese 'cho đến khi' Usage (Until)
'cho đến khi' indicates that a state or action continues up to a certain time or event.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'cho đến khi' indicates that a state or action continues up to a certain time or event.
English meanings
- until
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
I waited until he arrived.
2
Cô ấy học cho đến khi trời tối.
She studied until it got dark.
How to use it
'cho đến khi' emphasizes the endpoint; the preceding state or action continues until the following event occurs. In spoken language, 'đến khi' is also used as a shorter form, but 'cho đến khi' is more complete.
- Emphasizes continuation up to an endpoint.
- The first clause usually involves ongoing actions like waiting, studying, working, or maintaining.
- 'đến khi' can be used as a shorter form.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English 'until' often omits 'to the point of'; Vietnamese requires clearly marking the ongoing state and the endpoint event. Do not just place 'cho' at the sentence start.
Common mistakes
Cho đến khi tôi chờ anh ấy đến.
Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
'cho đến khi' must follow an ongoing action; do not reorder the sentence like in English.
Tôi ăn cho đến khi cơm.
Tôi ăn cho đến khi no.
The second clause must be a time point, event, or state endpoint, not an isolated noun.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'cho đến khi'?
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Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'cho đến khi'?
- Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
- Cho đến khi tôi chờ anh ấy đến.
- Tôi ăn cho đến khi cơm.
Answer: Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
Explanation: Emphasizes continuation up to an endpoint.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi chờ ____ anh ấy đến.
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Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi chờ ____ anh ấy đến.
Answer: Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
Explanation: Emphasizes continuation up to an endpoint.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I waited until he arrived." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I waited until he arrived." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
Explanation: Use cho đến khi in the same structure as the example.
True or false
'cho đến khi' can replace all English time words without considering whether the action is completed or ongoing.
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True or false
'cho đến khi' can replace all English time words without considering whether the action is completed or ongoing.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese tense and aspect markers depend on action state, speech time, and context; they cannot be learned by memorizing English equivalents.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Cho đến khi tôi chờ anh ấy đến.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Cho đến khi tôi chờ anh ấy đến.
Answer: Tôi chờ cho đến khi anh ấy đến.
Explanation: 'cho đến khi' must follow an ongoing action; do not reorder the sentence like in English.