Vietnamese 'khi nào' Usage (When)
'khi nào' is commonly used to mean "when" and is a fundamental Vietnamese structure for English speakers to learn first.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'khi nào' is commonly used to mean "when" and is a fundamental Vietnamese structure for English speakers to learn first.
English meanings
- when
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Khi nào bạn đi?
When are you going?
2
Bạn về nhà khi nào?
When are you going home?
How to use it
'khi nào' means "when" and is used to ask about time. It can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence, with slight differences in tone and focus depending on position.
- Can be placed at the start: Khi nào + clause?
- Can also be placed at the end: Clause + khi nào?
- Used to ask about specific times, more neutral than 'bao giờ'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, "when" usually precedes the verb. In Vietnamese, both 'Bạn đi khi nào?' (You go when?) and 'Khi nào bạn đi?' (When do you go?) are natural in spoken language.
Common mistakes
Bạn khi nào đi?
Bạn đi khi nào?
'khi nào' is often placed at the end in spoken questions about action time.
Khi nào bạn đi hôm qua?
Hôm qua bạn đi lúc mấy giờ?
If the time is already specified as yesterday, it's more natural to ask "at what time" rather than using 'khi nào'.
Commonly confused grammar
No closely confused forms are listed for this point.
Practice
Multiple choice
'khi nào' is used to ask about what?
Show answer
Multiple choice
'khi nào' is used to ask about what?
- time
- place
- person
Answer: time
Explanation: 'khi nào' means "when".
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ bạn đi?
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ bạn đi?
Answer: Khi nào
Explanation: 'khi nào' can be placed at the start: Khi nào + clause?
English to Vietnamese
Translate "When are you going?" into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "When are you going?" into Vietnamese.
Answer: Khi nào bạn đi?
Explanation: Use khi nào in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Bạn khi nào đi?
Show answer
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Bạn khi nào đi?
Answer: False
Explanation: 'khi nào' is usually placed at the end in spoken questions about action time.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Bạn khi nào đến?
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Bạn khi nào đến?
Answer: Bạn đến khi nào?
Explanation: 'khi nào' can be placed after the verb phrase to form a natural spoken question.