Vietnamese 'lên' Usage (go up / rise / increase)
'lên' indicates upward movement or increase, and can also express intensification of a state.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'lên' indicates upward movement or increase, and can also express intensification of a state.
English meanings
- go up
- rise
- increase
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Bạn nói to lên một chút.
Speak a little louder.
2
Giá nhà tăng lên rất nhanh.
House prices rose very quickly.
How to use it
'lên' can mean physically moving upward or increasing in volume, degree, price, or emotion.
- Indicates upward direction or strengthening.
- Commonly used with verbs like 'nói', 'tăng', 'đứng', 'lớn'.
- Opposite in direction to 'xuống'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English uses 'up', 'rise', or 'increase' similarly. Vietnamese 'lên' covers both physical direction and abstract increase or intensification.
Common mistakes
Bạn nói to xuống.
Bạn nói to lên.
Use 'lên' to indicate increasing volume.
Giá giảm lên.
Giá giảm xuống.
Use 'xuống' to indicate decrease.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'lên'?
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Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'lên'?
- Bạn nói to lên một chút.
- Bạn nói to xuống.
- Giá giảm lên.
Answer: Bạn nói to lên một chút.
Explanation: Indicates upward direction or strengthening.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Bạn nói to ____ một chút.
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Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Bạn nói to ____ một chút.
Answer: Bạn nói to lên một chút.
Explanation: Indicates upward direction or strengthening.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "Speak a little louder." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "Speak a little louder." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Bạn nói to lên một chút.
Explanation: Use lên in the same structure as the example.
True or false
True or False: 'lên' can be omitted if there is no obvious corresponding word in English.
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True or false
True or False: 'lên' can be omitted if there is no obvious corresponding word in English.
Answer: False
Explanation: Many Vietnamese complements and particles change the result or tone of the action; omitting them may make the meaning incomplete.
Correction
Correct the sentence: 'Bạn nói to xuống.'
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Correction
Correct the sentence: 'Bạn nói to xuống.'
Answer: Bạn nói to lên.
Explanation: Use 'lên' to indicate increasing volume.