Vietnamese Particle cơ Usage (You Know / Really / Just)
cơ can express emphasis, grievance, coaxing, or the tone of 'that's just how it is'.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
cơ can express emphasis, grievance, coaxing, or the tone of 'that's just how it is'.
English meanings
- you know
- really
- just
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Em không biết cơ.
I really don't know.
2
Tôi thích cái này cơ.
I just like this.
How to use it
cơ carries subtle emotional tones and is often subjective. In English, it might be translated as 'you know', 'really', or 'just', depending on context; it should not be translated mechanically.
- Common in close, informal speech with emotional tone.
- Not suitable in formal or objective statements.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English speakers use intonation to express coaxing or grievance; Vietnamese cơ explicitly marks this emotional nuance.
Common mistakes
Cơ em không biết.
Em không biết cơ.
cơ as a sentence-final particle should be at the end.
Báo cáo này sai cơ.
Báo cáo này sai.
Adding cơ in formal judgments sounds emotional and inappropriate.
Commonly confused grammar
No closely confused forms are listed for this point.
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses cơ?
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Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses cơ?
- Em không biết cơ.
- Cơ em không biết.
- Báo cáo này sai cơ.
Answer: Em không biết cơ.
Explanation: cơ is common in close, informal speech with emotional tone.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Em không biết ____.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Em không biết ____.
Answer: Em không biết cơ.
Explanation: cơ is common in close, informal speech with emotional tone.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I really don't know." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I really don't know." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Em không biết cơ.
Explanation: Use cơ in the same structure as the example.
True or false
True or False: Cơ em không biết.
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True or false
True or False: Cơ em không biết.
Answer: False
Explanation: cơ as a sentence-final particle should be placed at the end.
Correction
Correct the unnatural placement of cơ in this sentence.
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Correction
Correct the unnatural placement of cơ in this sentence.
Answer: Em không biết cơ.
Explanation: cơ as a sentence-final particle is usually placed at the end of the sentence or intonation unit.