Vietnamese 'dù ... vẫn' Usage (Even if... still)
'dù ... vẫn' is commonly used to express 'even if... still', an important structure for learners.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'dù ... vẫn' is commonly used to express 'even if... still', an important structure for learners.
English meanings
- Even if... still
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Dù mệt tôi vẫn đi.
Even if tired, I still go.
2
Dù trời mưa, họ vẫn chơi bóng.
Even if it rains, they still play football.
How to use it
'dù ... vẫn' means 'even if... still...', emphasizing that a condition does not change the following action or state. It is stronger than a simple 'although'.
- 'dù' introduces a hypothetical or concessive condition; 'vẫn' introduces the unchanged result.
- 'vẫn' is important to clearly express 'still'.
- For ordinary contrast, 'tuy ... nhưng' can be used instead.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, 'even if' is often paired with 'still' or 'nevertheless'. Vietnamese uses 'dù' for 'even if' and 'vẫn' for 'still', making the meaning clear.
Common mistakes
Dù mệt tôi đi.
Dù mệt, tôi vẫn đi.
Adding 'vẫn' in the second clause makes the meaning 'still go' clearer and more natural.
Vẫn trời mưa dù họ chơi bóng.
Dù trời mưa, họ vẫn chơi bóng.
'dù' introduces the concessive condition; 'vẫn' is placed after the subject and before the verb.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
What does 'dù ... vẫn' emphasize most?
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Multiple choice
What does 'dù ... vẫn' emphasize most?
- Condition exists but result remains unchanged
- Two actions happen simultaneously
- Quantity comparison
Answer: Condition exists but result remains unchanged
Explanation: 'dù' means 'even if', 'vẫn' means 'still'.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ đi.
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Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ đi.
Answer: Dù mệt tôi vẫn đi.
Explanation: 'dù' introduces the condition; 'vẫn' introduces the unchanged result.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "Even if tired, I still go." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "Even if tired, I still go." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Dù mệt tôi vẫn đi.
Explanation: Use dù ... vẫn in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Dù mệt tôi đi.
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True or false
Is this sentence correct? Dù mệt tôi đi.
Answer: False
Explanation: Adding 'vẫn' makes the meaning clearer and more natural.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Dù tôi bận, tôi học tiếng Việt.
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Correction
Correct this sentence: Dù tôi bận, tôi học tiếng Việt.
Answer: Dù tôi bận, tôi vẫn học tiếng Việt.
Explanation: 'vẫn' expresses 'still'.