Vietnamese Grammar Bank
HOW TO SAY BUT IN VIETNAMESE
In Vietnamese, you can express “but” in only one word which is “NHƯNG”.
Let’s have a look in this lesson to learn how to use it properly!
BUT IN VIETNAMESE WITH NHƯNG
You can add “NHƯNG” between 2 contrast clauses in 1 sentence or 2 contrast sentences.
There are other synonyms for “NHƯNG” such as “NHƯNG MÀ” / “MÀ”.
Note: “MÀ” can only be used between different clauses in a sentence.
PATTERN #1
Clause 1 + nhưng / nhưng mà / mà + Clause 2
PATTERN #2
Sentence 1. Nhưng / nhưng mà + Sentence 2
For example:
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Việt Nam có đồ ăn ngon nhưng thời tiết rất nóng | Vietnam has good cuisine but the weather is too hot! |
| Tôi thích ăn ngọt. Nhưng đó không phải là kem. | I love sweets. But it’s not ice-cream |
| Bánh mì đắt mà ngon thì OK. | It’s okay for banh mi to be expensive but delicious |
View More Examples:
| Tuyết đẹp nhưng mà lạnh quá! | Snow is beautiful but it’s too cold. |
| Gà chiên ngon. Nhưng mà nó béo quá! | Fried chicken is delicious. But it’s too greasy! |
| Cơm ngon mà cay quá! | Rice is delicious but it’s too spicy! |
TUY…NHƯNG / DÙ…NHƯNG
In order to express the contrast statements in a sentence, you can use phrases such as “Tuy…nhưng” or “Dù…nhưng” with a structure like this:
PATTERN
Tuy / Dù + clause 1 + nhưng + clause 2
For example:
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Tuy anh không đẹp trai nhưng anh giàu | Even though he is not handsome, he is rich |
| Tuy anh giàu nhưng anh vẫn mắc nợ | Even though he is rich, he is in debt |
| Tuy anh mắc nợ nhưng anh không buồn | Even though he is in debt, he is not depressed |
Learn Vietnamese with FlexiClasses
Book online classes with the best teachers in the industry.
SIMILAR RESOURCES
Download the free Mandarin eBook for a guide packed with all the LTL resources available online!
Want to learn more? Check out these other free resources:
• Learn how to say But in Mandarin
• Learn how to say But in Japanese
• Learn how to say But in Korean
FAQs
How to use NHƯNG for “but “in Vietnamese?
You can add “NHƯNG” between 2 contrast clauses in 1 sentence or 2 contrast sentences.
There are other synonyms for “NHƯNG” such as “NHƯNG MÀ” / “MÀ”.
Note: “MÀ” can only be used between different clauses in a sentence.
Clause 1 + nhưng / nhưng mà / mà + Clause 2
For example:
Việt Nam có đồ ăn ngon nhưng thời tiết rất nóng
Vietnam has good cuisine but the weather is too hot!
Bánh mì đắt mà ngon thì OK.
It’s okay for banh mi to be expensive but delicious
How to use TUY…NHƯNG?
In order to express the contrast statements in a sentence, you can use phrases such as “Tuy…nhưng” or “Dù…nhưng” with a structure like this:
Tuy / Dù + clause 1 + nhưng + clause 2
For example:
Tuy anh không đẹp trai nhưng anh giàu
Even though he is not handsome, he is rich
Tuy anh giàu nhưng anh vẫn mắc nợ
Even though he is rich, he is in debt
Is Vietnamese SOV or SVO?
The Vietnamese language structure is SVO, meaning sentences are built according to Subject + Verb + Object.
—
Learn more about the Vietnamese sentence structure here.
What are some basic sentence structures?
The most basic sentence structures in Vietnamese are as follow:
Subject + “là” + Noun
Tôi là David // I am David
Subject + Adjective
Anh ấy xấu // He is ugly
Subject + Verb + Object
Chị ấy học Tiếng Việt // She studies Vietnamese
Can I learn Vietnamese online with LTL?
Absolutely!
With Flexi Classes you can study Vietnamese 24/7 in both group or individual classes.
Choose your study time and study topic, make progress fast.
Can I learn Vietnamese in Vietnam with LTL?
Yes, you can!
You can study with us in Saigon or Hanoi, in both group or individual classes.
You’ll even have the opportunity to live with a Vietnamese family, thanks to our homestays.
MORE FREE LESSONS
-
Basic sentence structure
Subject + là + Noun -
Present tense in Vietnamese
Subject + Verb + (present time adverb) -
Past simple tense in Vietnamese
Subject + đã + verb + (past tense time adverb) -
Future tense in Vietnamese
Subject + will + verb + (future time adverb) -
Continuous tense in Vietnamese
Subject + đang + verb + (time adverb) -
How to use pronouns in Vietnamese
Tôi, Mình, Bạn, Con, Cháu, Em etc -
Plurals in Vietnamese
Những / Các + counter + singular noun -
Negative sentences in Vietnamese
không + Verb / Adjective -
Using adjectives in Vietnamese
Subject + Adjective -
Using adverbs in Vietnamese
Verb + Adverb -
Prepositions in Vietnamese
Subject + ở (to be) + prepositions + object -
Asking questions in Vietnamese
Clause + gì? -
Numbers in Vietnamese
- -
Vietnamese counters
Number + cái + non-living thing -
Writing dates in Vietnamese
Week day + date + month + year -
Telling time in Vietnamese
Number + Giờ + Number + Phút + Number + Giây -
Expressing "because" in Vietnamese
Vì / Do/ Bởi vì + Noun -
Expressing "but" in Vietnamese
Clause 1 + nhưng / nhưng mà / mà + Clause 2 -
Expressing "and" in Vietnamese
Noun 1 + và + Noun 2 -
"Should" & "shouldn't" in Vietnamese
Subject + nên + verb -
Expressing similarities in Vietnamese
Noun 1 + giống như + Noun 2 -
Making requests in Vietnamese
Subject + vui lòng + verb + ạ! -
Expressing "as soon as" in Vietnamese
Ngay khi + clause A, clause B -
Expressing "not yet" in Vietnamese
Subject + chưa + verb -
Expressing desire in Vietnamese
Subject + muốn + noun / verb / adjective -
How to say "very" in Vietnamese
Rất + adjective! -
Giving directions in Vietnamese
Làm sao + đi đến + destination? -
Expressing capacity in Vietnamese
Có thể + Verb