Vietnamese Grammar Bank
EXPRESS CONTRAST IN VIETNAMESE
In Vietnamese, expressing contrast helps you show differences between ideas, actions, or situations.
This lesson will teach you how to use structures like “mặc dù”, “trong khi”, and “ngược lại” to clearly communicate opposition or comparison in your sentences.
TUY…NHƯNG = ALTHOUGH…
“Tuy… nhưng…” translates to “Although… ” and is used to express a contrast between two clauses.
PATTERN
Tuy + clause, nhưng + contrast clause
For example:
| Tuy trời mưa nhưng chúng tôi vẫn đi ra ngoài | Although it is raining, we still go out |
| Tuy anh ấy trẻ, nhưng anh ấy rất thông minh. | He is young, but he is very smart |
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| Tuy cô ấy mệt, nhưng cô ấy vẫn tiếp tục làm việc | Although she is tired, she continues working. |
| Tuy bộ phim dài, nhưng nó rất thú vị. | The movie is long, but it is interesting. |
| Tuy thời tiết nóng, nhưng chúng tôi vẫn đi leo núi | Although the weather is hot, we go hiking |
| Tuy anh ấy không thích cà phê, nhưng anh ấy uống mỗi sáng | He doesn’t like coffee, but he drinks it every morning. |
MẶC DÙ…NHƯNG = EVEN THOUGH…
“Mặc dù… nhưng…” is similar to “Tuy… nhưng…” and means “Even though… but…” It emphasizes the unexpected result or contradiction.
PATTERN
Mặc dù + clause, nhưng + contrast clause
For example:
| Mặc dù trời mưa nhưng chúng tôi vẫn đi ra ngoài | Even though it is raining, we still go out |
| Mặc dù anh ấy trẻ, nhưng anh ấy rất thông minh. | He is young, but he is very smart |
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| Mặc dù cô ấy mệt, nhưng cô ấy vẫn tiếp tục làm việc | Even though she is tired, she continues working. |
| Mặc dù bộ phim dài, nhưng nó rất thú vị. | The movie is long, but it is interesting. |
| Mặc dù thời tiết nóng, nhưng chúng tôi vẫn đi leo núi | Even though the weather is hot, we go hiking |
| Mặc dù anh ấy không thích cà phê, nhưng anh ấy uống mỗi sáng | He doesn’t like coffee, but he drinks it every morning. |
NGƯỢC LẠI = ON THE CONTRARY
“Ngược lại” means “on the contrary” and is used to introduce an opposite idea or result.
PATTERN
Clause, ngược lại + contrast clause
For example:
| Anh ấy thích thể thao, ngược lại, em trai anh ấy ghét | He loves sports, on the contrary, his brother hates them. |
| Tôi nghĩ cô ấy buồn, ngược lại, cô ấy lại vui | I thought she was sad, but on the contrary, she was happy |
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| Anh ấy trượt kỳ thi, ngược lại, bạn anh ấy đậu | He failed the test, on the contrary, his friend passed it. |
| Hôm qua thời tiết lạnh, ngược lại, hôm nay lại ấm | The weather was cold yesterday, but today it is warm, on the contrary. |
| Cô ấy trầm lặng, ngược lại, chị của cô ấy rất hay nói | She is quiet, on the contrary, her sister is very talkative. |
| Anh ấy nhút nhát, nhưng bạn anh ấy, ngược lại, rất hướng ngoại. | He is shy, but his friend, on the contrary, is outgoing. |
TRONG KHI = WHILE
“Trong khi” means “while” and is used to express contrast between two simultaneous actions or states.
PATTERN
Trong khi + clause, contrast clause
For example:
| Tôi đang học, trong khi bạn tôi đang chơi | I am studying, while my friend is playing soccer |
| Cô ấy đang làm việc, trong khi em trai cô ấy đang nghỉ ngơi | She is working, while her brother is resting |
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| Anh ấy thích cà phê, trong khi cô ấy lại thích trà | He likes coffee, while she prefers tea. |
| Tôi đang nấu bữa tối, trong khi chị tôi đang dọn bàn ăn | I am cooking dinner, while my sister is setting the table. |
| Họ đang chờ xe buýt, trong khi chúng tôi đang đi bộ về nhà | They are waiting for the bus, while we are walking home |
| Anh ấy đang ôn thi, trong khi các bạn của anh ấy đang chơi | He is studying for the exam, while his friends are playing games. |
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FAQs
Can I use “mặc dù” and “nhưng” in the same sentence?
Yes.
While “mặc dù” introduces the contrast, “nhưng” can be added in the second clause to emphasize it, similar to “although… but…” in English.
For example: Mặc dù trời mưa, nhưng tôi vẫn đi học.
What’s the difference between “trong khi” and “ngược lại”?
“Trong khi” means “while” and is used to contrast two simultaneous actions or situations.
“Ngược lại” means “on the contrary” or “in contrast” and introduces an opposite idea or result.
Is “mặc dù” formal or informal?
“Mặc dù” is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Vietnamese.
It is slightly more formal than “dù” but both are acceptable in most contexts.
Can I start a sentence with “ngược lại”?
Yes. “Ngược lại” can begin a sentence to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: Tôi thích ở nhà. Ngược lại, anh ấy thích đi chơi.
Are there other ways to express contrast in Vietnamese?
Yes.
Besides “mặc dù”, “trong khi”, and “ngược lại”, you can also use “tuy nhiên” (however), “dù sao đi nữa” (anyway), and “trái lại” (conversely) depending on the tone and context.
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