Vietnamese Particle đó Usage (Oh / That / Exactly)
đó placed at the end of a sentence can indicate reminder, pointing out, or emphasis, with a stronger tone than a plain statement.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
đó placed at the end of a sentence can indicate reminder, pointing out, or emphasis, with a stronger tone than a plain statement.
English meanings
- oh
- that
- exactly
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
He has already arrived.
2
Cái này của bạn đó.
This is yours.
How to use it
đó can also be a demonstrative meaning 'that', but as a sentence-final particle, it reminds the listener of known information.
- Often used to remind someone of a fact.
- Similar to đấy but more like pointing to known information.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English uses 'oh', 'that', or sentence stress depending on context; Vietnamese distinguishes đó as a demonstrative or sentence-final particle.
Common mistakes
Đó anh ấy đến rồi.
Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
Sentence-final đó should be placed at the end.
Cái áo đó đẹp đó.
Cái áo đó đẹp.
The first đó is demonstrative; avoid redundant sentence-final đó here.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses đó?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses đó?
- Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
- Đó anh ấy đến rồi.
- Cái áo đó đẹp đó.
Answer: Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
Explanation: đó is often used to remind someone of a fact.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Anh ấy đến rồi ____.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Anh ấy đến rồi ____.
Answer: Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
Explanation: đó is used to remind someone of a fact.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "He has already arrived." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "He has already arrived." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
Explanation: Use đó in the same structure as the example.
True or false
True or False: Đó anh ấy đến rồi.
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True or false
True or False: Đó anh ấy đến rồi.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sentence-final đó should be placed at the end.
Correction
Correct the unnatural placement of đó in this sentence.
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Correction
Correct the unnatural placement of đó in this sentence.
Answer: Anh ấy đến rồi đó.
Explanation: đó as a sentence-final particle is usually placed at the end of the sentence or intonation unit.