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Grammar point
B2Medium frequencyContrastWrittenUpper intermediate

Vietnamese 'dẫu sao' Usage (Anyway / After All)

'dẫu sao' means 'anyway' or 'after all'. Its function and style depend on the lesson's structure and examples.

Quick explanation

Quick explanation

'dẫu sao' means 'anyway' or 'after all'. Its function and style depend on the lesson's structure and examples.

English meanings

  • anyway; after all

Grammar pattern

dẫu sao + clause

Examples

1

Dẫu sao, chúng ta cũng đã cố gắng hết sức.

Anyway, we have tried our best.

2

Dẫu sao anh ấy vẫn là bạn của tôi.

After all, he is still my friend.

How to use it

'dẫu sao' is used to acknowledge a previous situation and then return to a judgment that still holds true.

  • 'dẫu sao' can be placed at the beginning of a sentence, often followed by a comma.
  • Often paired with 'cũng' or 'vẫn' to show something still holds.
  • Compared to 'dù ... vẫn', it functions more as a discourse connector.

Compared with English

Compared with English

In English, 'Anyway, we have done our best' or 'After all, he is still my friend' shows concession and conclusion; similarly, 'dẫu sao' is used to return to the main point after concession.

Common mistakes

Dẫu sao chúng ta đã cố gắng hết sức.

Dẫu sao, chúng ta cũng đã cố gắng hết sức.

'dẫu sao' at the start is usually followed by a comma and 'cũng' to emphasize 'anyway'.

Dẫu sao trời mưa, tôi vẫn đi.

Dù trời mưa, tôi vẫn đi.

For specific 'even if it rains' conditions, use 'dù ... vẫn'; 'dẫu sao' is for discourse transitions.

Commonly confused grammar

Practice

Multiple choice

What is the typical function of 'dẫu sao'?

Show answer
  • Concession followed by conclusion
  • Asking price
  • Passive voice

Answer: Concession followed by conclusion

Explanation: It is similar to 'anyway' or 'after all'.

Fill in the blank

Fill in the blank: ____, chúng ta cũng đã cố gắng hết sức.

Show answer

Answer: Dẫu sao, chúng ta cũng đã cố gắng hết sức.

Explanation: 'dẫu sao' can be placed at the start, often followed by a comma.

English to Vietnamese

Translate "Anyway, we have tried our best." into Vietnamese.

Show answer

Answer: Dẫu sao, chúng ta cũng đã cố gắng hết sức.

Explanation: Use dẫu sao in the same structure as the example.

True or false

True or False: Dẫu sao chúng ta đã cố gắng hết sức.

Show answer

Answer: False

Explanation: 'dẫu sao' at the start is usually followed by a comma and 'cũng'.

Correction

Correct this sentence: Dẫu sao trời lạnh, tôi vẫn đi.

Show answer

Answer: Dù trời lạnh, tôi vẫn đi.

Explanation: For specific 'even if' conditions, use 'dù ... vẫn'.

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