Vietnamese Grammar Bank
INTENTIONS IN VIETNAMESE
In Vietnamese, expressing intentions is essential for discussing plans, goals, and desires.
Key expressions such as định (intend), lên kế hoạch (making plans), and sẽ (will) allow speakers to communicate their intentions with clarity and nuance.
EXPRESSING ‘WILL’ WITH SẼ
The word “sẽ” indicates a future action or intention. You can use it using the following structure:
PATTERN
Subject + sẽ + verb
For example:
| Tôi sẽ đi du lịch vào cuối tuần. | I will travel this weekend |
| Ba tôi sẽ học tiếng Anh mỗi ngày. | My father will study English everyday |
| Tôi sẽ mua sắm vào thứ Bảy này. | I will go shopping on this Saturday |
EXPRESSING ‘INTEND’ WITH ĐỊNH
The word “định” suggests a planned action or intention.
PATTERN
Subject + định + verb
| Tôi định đi du lịch vào cuối tuần. | I intend to travel this weekend |
| Ba tôi định kinh doanh | My father intends to open a business |
| Tôi định đi công tác vào thứ Bảy này. | I intend to have a company trip on this Saturday |
NOTE || You can also replace “định” with “có ý định” which means “to have an intention to do something.
PATTERN
Subject + có ý định + verb
| Tôi có ý định đi du lịch vào cuối tuần. | I have an intention to travel this weekend |
| Ba tôi có ý định kinh doanh | My father has an intention to open a business |
| Tôi có ý định đi công tác vào thứ Bảy này. | I have an intention to have a company trip on this Saturday |
EXPRESSING ‘PLAN TO’ WITH DỰ ĐỊNH
“Dự định” means “plan to” and is used when a person or group has a clear plan or idea to accomplish something in the future.
It’s similar to “intend to,” but with a slightly stronger sense of having thought about or planned for the action.
PATTERN
Subject + dự định + verb
| Tôi dự định đi du lịch vào cuối tuần. | I plan to travel this weekend |
| Cô ấy dự định học tiếng Anh | She plans to study more English |
| Chúng tôi dự định mở quán cà phê vào tháng tới. | We plan to open a café next month. |
‘MAKING PLANS’ WITH LÊN KẾ HOẠCH
“Lên kế hoạch” means “make plans to” or “plan to,” and it is often used to emphasize on preparation for projects, events, or detailed personal plans.
PATTERN
Subject + lên kế hoạch + verb
| Tôi đang lên kế hoạch đi du lịch vào cuối tuần. | I am planning to travel this weekend |
| Cô ấy đang lên kế hoạch học tiếng Anh | She is planning to study more English |
| Chúng tôi đang lên kế hoạch mở quán cà phê vào tháng tới. | We are planning to open a café next month. |
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FAQs
How to use Định in Vietnamese?
“Định” means “to intend to” and is placed before a verb to indicate intention. For example, “Tôi định học tiếng Việt” (I intend to study Vietnamese).
What’s the difference between muốn and định?
“Muốn” expresses a desire (want) to do something, while “định” specifically indicates an intention or plan.
For example, “Tôi muốn đi du lịch” (I want to travel) versus “Tôi định đi du lịch” (I intend to travel).
Can “sẽ” be used to express intention, or is it only for the future tense?
“Sẽ” generally indicates a future action but can imply intent if the context is clear.
However, “định” or “muốn” are more specific for intentional actions.
Can “đang định” be used to indicate an immediate intention?
Yes, “đang định” implies an intention that you are actively considering or about to do soon.
For example, “Tôi đang định gọi cho bạn” (I am about to call you).
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