Vietnamese 'lần' Classifier Usage (Occurrence/Times)
lần indicates the number of times an action occurs.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
lần indicates the number of times an action occurs.
English meanings
- time (occurrence)
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
I have been to Vietnam twice.
2
Bạn nghe câu này ba lần đi.
Listen to this sentence three times.
How to use it
lần is a high-frequency classifier used for counting occurrences like 'once', 'twice', or 'many times'. It is not used for trips or journeys, which use chuyến.
- Indicates frequency of actions.
- Often used with đã từng (have ever), bao nhiêu (how many).
- Distinguished from chuyến which is for trips.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English 'time' or 'occurrence' corresponds to lần; Vietnamese distinguishes between lần for action frequency and chuyến for trips.
Common mistakes
Tôi đi Việt Nam hai chuyến rồi.
Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
Use lần to emphasize how many times you have been somewhere.
Nghe câu này ba chuyến.
Nghe câu này ba lần.
Use lần to indicate how many times you listen.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses lần?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses lần?
- Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
- Tôi đi Việt Nam hai chuyến rồi.
- Nghe câu này ba chuyến.
Answer: Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
Explanation: Indicates frequency of actions.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai ____.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai ____.
Answer: Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
Explanation: Indicates frequency of actions.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I have been to Vietnam twice." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I have been to Vietnam twice." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
Explanation: Use lần in the same structure as the example.
True or false
lần can replace all classifiers like the English word 'a'.
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True or false
lần can replace all classifiers like the English word 'a'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese cái is common, but many nouns have more natural or precise classifiers.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi đi Việt Nam hai chuyến rồi.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi đi Việt Nam hai chuyến rồi.
Answer: Tôi đã đến Việt Nam hai lần.
Explanation: Use lần to emphasize how many times you have been somewhere.