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Grammar point
A2Very commonParticlesNeutralElementary

Vietnamese 'xuống' Usage (go down / decrease)

'xuống' indicates downward movement, decrease, or weakening.

Quick explanation

Quick explanation

'xuống' indicates downward movement, decrease, or weakening.

English meanings

  • go down
  • decrease

Grammar pattern

V + xuống / Adj + xuống

Examples

1

Bạn ngồi xuống đi.

Please sit down.

2

Giá vé đã giảm xuống.

The ticket price has dropped.

How to use it

'xuống' can mean physically moving downward or decreasing in price, volume, degree, or speed.

  • Indicates downward direction or decrease.
  • Commonly used with verbs like 'ngồi', 'đi', 'giảm', 'hạ'.
  • Opposite in direction to 'lên'.

Compared with English

Compared with English

English uses 'down', 'decrease', or 'lower' similarly. Vietnamese 'xuống' contrasts with 'lên' for direction and degree changes.

Common mistakes

Bạn ngồi lên đi.

Bạn ngồi xuống đi.

Use 'xuống' to indicate sitting down.

Giá tăng xuống.

Giá tăng lên.

Use 'lên' to indicate increase.

Commonly confused grammar

Practice

Multiple choice

Which sentence correctly uses 'xuống'?

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  • Bạn ngồi xuống đi.
  • Bạn ngồi lên đi.
  • Giá tăng xuống.

Answer: Bạn ngồi xuống đi.

Explanation: Indicates downward direction or decrease.

Fill in the blank

Fill in the blank: Bạn ngồi ____ đi.

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Answer: Bạn ngồi xuống đi.

Explanation: Indicates downward direction or decrease.

English to Vietnamese

Translate "Please sit down." into Vietnamese.

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Answer: Bạn ngồi xuống đi.

Explanation: Use xuống in the same structure as the example.

True or false

True or False: 'xuống' can be omitted if there is no obvious corresponding word in English.

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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 ngồi lên đi.'

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Answer: Bạn ngồi xuống đi.

Explanation: Use 'xuống' to indicate sitting down.

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