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:

For example:

EXPRESSING ‘INTEND’ WITH ĐỊNH

The word “định” suggests a planned action or intention.

NOTE || You can also replace “định” with “có ý định” which means “to have an intention to do something.

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.

‘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. 

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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 express intentions in Japanese
• Learn how to express intentions in Korean

FAQs

MORE FREE LESSONS

• Basic comparisons in Vietnamese

  Subject 1 + Adjective + hơn + Subject 2

• Vietnamese command form

  Verb + đi! / nào!

• Conditional sentences in Vietnamese

  Nếu (if) + if-clause A, thì (so) + main clause

• Perception verbs in Vietnamese

  Subject + thấy + noun

• Quantifiers in Vietnamese

  Một số + noun

• Simultaneous actions in Vietnamese

  Subject + vừa + action 1 + vừa + action 2

• Measurements in Vietnamese

   Bao lâu? / Bao nhiêu + time measurement 

• Adjective Comparisons in Vietnamese

  Subject 1 + adjective + chẳng kém gì + Subject 2

• How to say "with" in Vietnamese

  Subject 1 + Verb + với + Subject 2

• How to say "or" in Vietnamese

  N1/ V1/ A1 + hoặc + N2/ V2/ A2

• How to say "almost" in Vietnamese

  Subject + hầu như + verb 

• How to say 'if' in Vietnamese

  Nếu/ Nếu như + Clause 1, Clause 2

• How to say "together" in Vietnamese

  Subject + “cùng” + (Person if specified) + Verb

• How to say "in order to" in Vietnamese

  Subject + để + Verb

• How to say "this" and "that" in Vietnamese

  Cái này + (là) + Noun/ Adjective/Verb/Clause

• How to say "after all" in Vietnamese

  Cuối cùng, Subject + Verb

• How to say "moreover" in Vietnamese

  Clause 1. Hơn nữa, Clause 2.

• How to say "until" in Vietnamese

  Clause 1 + cho đến khi + Clause 2

• "Must" & "have to" in Vietnamese

  Subject  + phải + verb

• How to say "used to" in Vietnamese

  Subject + từng/đã từng + verb

• "To try something" in Vietnamese

  Thử + Verb

• "The more...the more" in Vietnamese

  Càng + [Verb], Càng + [Verb]

• Making suggestions in Vietnamese

  Clause, nhé!

• Expressing intentions in Vietnamese

  Subject + định + verb

• Expressing surprise in Vietnamese

  Thật à? + Clause

• Expressing regret in Vietnamese

  Thật tiếc là + clause

• Expressing hope in Vietnamese

  Subject + hy vọng + clause

• Probability in Vietnamese

  Subject + có thể + Verb

• Purpose of action in Vietnamese

  Subject + Verb + để + Purpose Clause

• Expressing potential in Vietnamese

  Subject + có thể + Verb

• Expressing contrast in Vietnamese

  Tuy + clause, nhưng + contrast clause

• Giving advice in Vietnamese

  Subject 1 + nghĩ + Subject 2 + nên + verb/adjective

• How to order food in Vietnamese

  Cho + 1st pronoun + counter + name of the dish or drink

• Adjective Clause with "Đến mức" in Vietnamese

  Subject + adjective + đến mức + clause