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Grammar point
B1CommonResultSpokenIntermediate

Vietnamese 'thành ra' Usage (so / resulting in)

'thành ra' indicates that the preceding situation causes the following result; in spoken language, it is similar to 'so' or 'as a result'.

Quick explanation

Quick explanation

'thành ra' indicates that the preceding situation causes the following result; in spoken language, it is similar to 'so' or 'as a result'.

English meanings

  • so
  • resulting in

Grammar pattern

Clause, thành ra + clause

Examples

1

Tôi ngủ muộn, thành ra sáng nay rất mệt.

I slept late, so I was very tired this morning.

2

Anh ấy không luyện nghe, thành ra nghe không kịp.

He didn’t practice listening, so he couldn’t keep up.

How to use it

'thành ra' is often used in spoken narratives to explain how a situation leads to a result, with a tone of 'it turned out like this' or 'so it became'. It is more colloquial than 'do đó' and conveys a sense of result formation more than 'nên'.

  • Common in spoken explanations of results.
  • Usually preceded by the cause or background.
  • Formal writing uses 'do đó' or 'vì vậy'.

Compared with English

Compared with English

In English, 'so' is very common for cause-effect. 'thành ra' is more colloquial and often explains how things ended up a certain way.

Common mistakes

Tôi học tiếng Việt thành ra nói chuyện với bạn.

Tôi học tiếng Việt để nói chuyện với bạn.

Use 'để' for purpose, not 'thành ra'.

Tôi ngủ muộn, nhằm sáng nay rất mệt.

Tôi ngủ muộn, thành ra sáng nay rất mệt.

'thành ra' is used for results, not 'nhằm'.

Commonly confused grammar

Practice

Multiple choice

Which sentence means 'I slept late, so I was very tired this morning'?

Show answer
  • Tôi ngủ muộn, thành ra sáng nay rất mệt.
  • Tôi ngủ muộn để sáng nay rất mệt.
  • Tôi ngủ muộn nhằm sáng nay rất mệt.

Answer: Tôi ngủ muộn, thành ra sáng nay rất mệt.

Explanation: 'thành ra' introduces a result caused by the previous situation.

Fill in the blank

Fill in the blank: Tôi ngủ muộn, ____ sáng nay rất mệt.

Show answer

Answer: Tôi ngủ muộn, thành ra sáng nay rất mệt.

Explanation: Commonly used in spoken explanations of results.

English to Vietnamese

Translate "I slept late, so I was very tired this morning." into Vietnamese.

Show answer

Answer: Tôi ngủ muộn, thành ra sáng nay rất mệt.

Explanation: Use thành ra in the same structure as the example.

True or false

True or False: Tôi học tiếng Việt thành ra nói chuyện với bạn.

Show answer

Answer: False

Explanation: Use 'để' for purpose, not 'thành ra'.

Correction

Correct this sentence: Tôi học tiếng Việt thành ra nói chuyện với bạn. (purpose)

Show answer

Answer: Tôi học tiếng Việt để nói chuyện với bạn.

Explanation: 'để' is used for purpose, not 'thành ra'.

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