Vietnamese Grammar Bank
EXPRESSING HEARSAY IN VIETNAMESE
In Vietnamese, expressing hearsay or indirect information is essential for everyday communication, especially when you’re not the original source of the news.
This lesson introduces common structures like nói rằng, nghe nói là, đồn rằng, and theo, helping you share what you’ve heard or read from others.
NGHE NÓI LÀ… = I HEARD THAT…
“Nghe nói là” translates to “I heard that” and is used to introduce information obtained from someone else.
PATTERN
Subject + nghe nói là + clause
For example:
| Nghe nói là cô ấy sẽ kết hôn vào tháng sau. | I heard that she is getting married next month |
| Nghe nói là công ty sẽ đóng cửa. | I heard that the company is going to close down |
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| Nghe nói là họ sẽ chuyển đến thành phố khác | I heard that they are moving to another city |
| Nghe nói là thời tiết ngày mai sẽ nắng. | I heard that the weather will be sunny tomorrow |
| Nghe nói là anh ấy sẽ đi du học | I heard that he is going abroad for study |
| Nghe nói là họ đã giành chức vô địch. | I heard that they won the championship |
ĐỒN RẰNG… = RUMORED THAT…
“Đồn rằng” means “it’s rumored that“ and is often used for unverified or widely spread information.
PATTERN
Subject + đồn rằng + clause
For example:
| Đồn rằng cô ấy sẽ kết hôn vào tháng sau. | It is rumored that she is getting married next month |
| Đồn rằng công ty sẽ đóng cửa. | It is rumored that the company is going to close down |
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| Đồn rằng họ sẽ chuyển đến thành phố khác | It is rumored thatthey are moving to another city |
| Đồn rằng thời tiết ngày mai sẽ nắng. | It is rumored that the weather will be sunny tomorrow |
| Đồn rằng anh ấy sẽ đi du học | It is rumored thatt he is going abroad for study |
| Đồn rằng họ đã giành chức vô địch. | It is rumored thatthey won the championship |
THEO… = ACCORDING TO…
“Theo” means “according to” and is used to attribute the source of the information.
PATTERN
Theo + source/noun + clause
For example:
| Theo tin tức, giao thông hôm nay rất đông | According to the news, the traffic is heavy today |
| Theo bạn tôi, buổi hòa nhạc rất tuyệt vời | According to my friend, the concert was amazing. |
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| Theo dự báo thời tiết, chiều nay sẽ có mưa. | According to the weather forecast, it will rain this afternoon. |
| Theo báo cáo, doanh thu đã tăng. | According to the report, sales have increased. |
| Theo bác sĩ, bạn cần nghỉ ngơi nhiều hơn. | According to the doctor, you need to rest more. |
| Theo cô giáo, kỳ thi sẽ vào tuần tới. | According to the teacher, the exam will be next week. |
NÓI RẰNG = SAID THAT
This phrase highlights that the information comes from another person.
PATTERN
Subject + nói rằng + clause
For example:
| Cô ấy nói rằng cô ấy sẽ đến lúc 7 giờ tối. | She said that she would arrive at 7 p.m. |
| Họ nói rằng họ sẽ đi biển vào cuối tuần này. | They said that they are going to the beach this weekend. |
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| Anh ấy nói rằng anh ấy cảm thấy tốt hơn bây giờ. | He said that he is feeling better now. |
| Cô giáo nói rằng chúng ta cần học chăm chỉ hơn. | The teacher said that we need to study harder. |
| Mẹ tôi nói rằng bữa tối sẽ sẵn sàng sớm. | My mom said that dinner will be ready soon. |
| Họ nói rằng họ đang lên kế hoạch cho một chuyến đi nước ngoài. | They said that they are planning a trip abroad. |
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FAQs
What’s the difference between “nghe nói là” and “đồn rằng”?
“Nghe nói là” is often used when the speaker has personally heard something from someone, while “đồn rằng” implies that something is a rumor or gossip that is being spread around.
Can I use “nói rằng” in both written and spoken Vietnamese?
Yes, “nói rằng” is neutral and can be used in both contexts, though in casual conversation, people often omit “rằng” and use just “nói…”.
Is “theo” always followed by a source?
Yes, “theo” is used to introduce the source of the information (e.g., “Theo báo Tuổi Trẻ…”), similar to “according to” in English.
Are these hearsay expressions interchangeable?
Not always.
While they all relate to reporting information, they differ in tone and context.
For example, “nghe nói” is more casual, while “nói rằng” is more formal or direct.
Can these structures be used to report opinions as well as facts?
Yes, hearsay expressions in Vietnamese can be used to report both factual information and personal opinions, depending on the context.
Can I learn 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.