Vietnamese 'vẫn' Usage (Still / Yet)
'vẫn' indicates continuation of a state or action, meaning 'still' or 'yet'.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'vẫn' indicates continuation of a state or action, meaning 'still' or 'yet'.
English meanings
- still
- yet
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi vẫn học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
I still study Vietnamese every day.
2
Cô ấy vẫn đang làm việc.
She is still working.
How to use it
'vẫn' expresses that a state has not changed, often used with 'đang', 'còn', or 'như cũ'. It does not cover all uses of the English word for 'still'; it cannot be used to mean 'another' or 'more'.
- Indicates continuation of a state.
- Can combine with 'đang' to show ongoing action.
- Do not use to mean 'another' or 'more'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English 'still' corresponds to 'vẫn' for continuation, while 'more' or 'another' requires different words like 'thêm' or 'nữa'.
Common mistakes
Tôi muốn vẫn một ly cà phê.
Tôi muốn thêm một ly cà phê.
'Still want one more cup' is an addition, use 'thêm', not 'vẫn'.
Tôi vẫn đã ăn cơm.
Tôi đã ăn cơm rồi.
Completed actions do not indicate continuation; use past tense markers instead.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'vẫn'?
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Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'vẫn'?
- Tôi vẫn học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
- Tôi muốn vẫn một ly cà phê.
- Tôi vẫn đã ăn cơm.
Answer: Tôi vẫn học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
Explanation: Indicates continuation of a state.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
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Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
Answer: Tôi vẫn học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
Explanation: Indicates continuation of a state.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I still study Vietnamese every day." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I still study Vietnamese every day." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi vẫn học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
Explanation: Use vẫn in the same structure as the example.
True or false
'vẫn' can replace all English time words without considering whether the action is completed or ongoing.
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True or false
'vẫn' can replace all English time words without considering whether the action is completed or ongoing.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese tense and aspect markers depend on action state, speech time, and context; they cannot be learned by memorizing English equivalents.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi muốn vẫn một ly cà phê.
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Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi muốn vẫn một ly cà phê.
Answer: Tôi muốn thêm một ly cà phê.
Explanation: 'Still want one more cup' is an addition, use 'thêm', not 'vẫn'.