Vietnamese particle qua usage (pass by/through/too)
The particle qua can mean 'to pass by' or 'to go through'; note it is different from qu谩 with a tone mark, which means 'too' or 'very'.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
The particle qua can mean 'to pass by' or 'to go through'; note it is different from qu谩 with a tone mark, which means 'too' or 'very'.
English meanings
- pass by
- through
- too (as in 'too much')
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
T么i 膽i qua c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
I pass by the park every morning.
2
B岷 g峄璱 t脿i li峄噓 qua email nh茅.
Please send the documents via email.
How to use it
The unaccented particle qua indicates passing by, going through, or crossing over. Learners often confuse it with qu谩, which means 'too' or 'very'.
- Indicates passing by a place or through a medium.
- Different from qu谩, which means 'too' or 'very'.
- Does not express past experience or 'have done'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, 'pass' or 'go through' corresponds to qua; it is not the same as 'too' or 'very'.
Common mistakes
T么i qua 膽岷縩 Vi峄噒 Nam.
T么i t峄玭g 膽岷縩 Vi峄噒 Nam.
To say 'I have been to Vietnam' (past experience), use t峄玭g, not qua.
M贸n n脿y qua ngon.
M贸n n脿y qu谩 ngon.
To say 'This dish is too delicious', use qu谩 with the tone mark, not qua.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses qua?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses qua?
- T么i 膽i qua c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
- T么i qua 膽岷縩 Vi峄噒 Nam.
- M贸n n脿y qua ngon.
Answer: T么i 膽i qua c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
Explanation: Qua indicates passing by or through a medium.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: T么i 膽i ____ c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: T么i 膽i ____ c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
Answer: T么i 膽i qua c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
Explanation: Qua indicates passing by or through a medium.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I pass by the park every morning." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I pass by the park every morning." into Vietnamese.
Answer: T么i 膽i qua c么ng vi锚n m峄梚 s谩ng.
Explanation: Use qua in the same structure as the example.
True or false
If there is no obvious corresponding word in English, qua can be omitted.
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True or false
If there is no obvious corresponding word in English, qua can be omitted.
Answer: False
Explanation: Many Vietnamese particles and complements change the result or tone of an action; omitting them can make the meaning incomplete.
Correction
Correct this sentence: T么i qua 膽岷縩 Vi峄噒 Nam.
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Correction
Correct this sentence: T么i qua 膽岷縩 Vi峄噒 Nam.
Answer: T么i t峄玭g 膽岷縩 Vi峄噒 Nam.
Explanation: To say 'I have been to Vietnam' (past experience), use t峄玭g, not qua.