Vietnamese chưa Usage (Not Yet / Still Haven't)
chưa indicates that an action or state has not happened up to the moment of speaking, similar to 'not yet' in English.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
chưa indicates that an action or state has not happened up to the moment of speaking, similar to 'not yet' in English.
English meanings
- not yet
- still haven't
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
I haven't eaten breakfast yet.
2
Cô ấy chưa đến.
She hasn't arrived yet.
How to use it
chưa is a high-frequency negation for incomplete or unexperienced actions, usually placed before the verb. It differs from không, which is a general negation; chưa implies 'up to now, not yet'.
- chưa usually precedes the verb.
- In response to Đã ... chưa? questions, Chưa is used.
- If something is a habitual non-action, không is usually used instead.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, 'not yet' expresses incomplete action; Vietnamese uses chưa for this, while không is a general negation. For example, 'I haven't eaten yet' is Tôi chưa ăn, not Tôi không ăn.
Common mistakes
Tôi không ăn sáng rồi.
Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
To express 'haven't eaten breakfast yet', use chưa, not không with rồi.
Cô ấy đến chưa.
Cô ấy chưa đến.
In statements, chưa should be placed before the verb đến.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence naturally expresses "I haven't eaten breakfast yet"?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence naturally expresses "I haven't eaten breakfast yet"?
- Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
- Tôi không ăn sáng rồi.
- Tôi ăn sáng chưa.
Answer: Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
Explanation: chưa indicates the action has not happened up to now.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ ăn sáng.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ ăn sáng.
Answer: Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
Explanation: chưa usually precedes the verb.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I haven't eaten breakfast yet." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I haven't eaten breakfast yet." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
Explanation: Use chưa in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Can chưa be used exactly like 'not' in English?
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True or false
Can chưa be used exactly like 'not' in English?
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese negation depends on whether it negates action, identity, completion, ability, necessity, or command.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Cô ấy đến chưa. (meaning: She hasn't arrived yet)
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Cô ấy đến chưa. (meaning: She hasn't arrived yet)
Answer: Cô ấy chưa đến.
Explanation: In statements, chưa must precede the verb being negated.