Vietnamese 'nói chung' Usage (Generally Speaking)
'nói chung' means 'generally speaking' or 'overall'. Its function and style depend on the sentence structure and examples in this lesson.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'nói chung' means 'generally speaking' or 'overall'. Its function and style depend on the sentence structure and examples in this lesson.
English meanings
- generally speaking, overall
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Nói chung, cấu trúc này khá dễ hiểu.
Generally speaking, this structure is quite easy to understand.
2
Nói chung, người mới học nên dùng câu đầy đủ.
Generally speaking, beginners should use complete sentences.
How to use it
'nói chung' expresses 'generally speaking' or 'in general', used to summarize overall tendencies without addressing every exception.
- Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence followed by a comma.
- Used for overall evaluations, general advice, or broad conclusions.
- For summarizing the whole text strongly, use 'tóm lại' instead.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, 'generally speaking' introduces an overall judgment; Vietnamese 'nói chung' is used similarly and should not be followed by very specific exceptions.
Common mistakes
Nói chung, trường hợp này là ngoại lệ hiếm.
Trường hợp này là ngoại lệ hiếm.
A single rare exception is not a generalization and does not need 'nói chung'.
Nói chung về riêng trường hợp này, cách dùng đúng.
Riêng trường hợp này, cách dùng đúng.
Use 'riêng' for specific cases; do not mix 'nói chung' (general) with 'riêng' (specific).
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
What does 'nói chung' express?
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Multiple choice
What does 'nói chung' express?
- overall generalization
- precise basis
- rhetorical question
Answer: overall generalization
Explanation: It means 'generally speaking' or 'in general'.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____, cấu trúc này khá dễ hiểu.
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Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____, cấu trúc này khá dễ hiểu.
Answer: Nói chung, cấu trúc này khá dễ hiểu.
Explanation: Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence followed by a comma.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "Generally speaking, this structure is quite easy to understand." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "Generally speaking, this structure is quite easy to understand." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Nói chung, cấu trúc này khá dễ hiểu.
Explanation: Use nói chung in the same structure as the example.
True or false
True or False: Nói chung, trường hợp này là ngoại lệ hiếm.
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True or false
True or False: Nói chung, trường hợp này là ngoại lệ hiếm.
Answer: False
Explanation: A single rare exception is not a generalization and does not need 'nói chung'.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Nói chung, câu này là ví dụ thứ ba trong bài.
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Correction
Correct this sentence: Nói chung, câu này là ví dụ thứ ba trong bài.
Answer: Câu này là ví dụ thứ ba trong bài.
Explanation: Specific individual information does not require 'nói chung'.