Vietnamese Grammar Bank
THE COMMAND FORM IN VIETNAMESE
To command someone or insist someone do something in Vietnamese you can use đi, nào and a few other words.
Let’s have a look at all of them together.
COMMAND FORM WITH ĐI /NÀO
Both “…đi” and “…nào!” are used to order or command the person whom you are talking to. Just a little difference:
You use “…đi!” when ordering or commanding in an aggressive way.
You use “…nào!” when ordering or commanding in an encouraging way (to push someone or boost someone up to do something).
PATTERN
Verb + đi! / nào!
| Cút đi! | Get out! |
| Đi ngủ đi! | Go to bed! |
| Ăn đi! | Eat! |
WITH KHÔNG ĐƯỢC
Không được means to not be allowed to do something.
PATTERN
Không được + verb
| Không được ngủ | No sleeping! |
| Không được ăn | No eating! |
| Không được uống | No drinking! |
WITH ĐỪNG
You use “Đừng…” when you want to command someone not to do something:
PATTERN
Đừng (Don’t) + verb
| Đừng ngủ | Don’t sleep! |
| Đừng ăn | Don’t eat! |
| Đừng uống | Don’t drink! |
WITH XIN HÃY
You use “Xin hãy…” when you want to ask for help or favour (please) but in a very desperate way:
PATTERN
Xin hãy (please) + verb
| Xin hãy giúp tôi! | Please help me! |
| Xin hãy cho tôi một công việc | Please give me a job! |
| Xin hãy cứu tôi | Please rescue me! |
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FAQs
How to use the Vietnamese command form?
The command form in Vietnamese uses multiple words:
You use “…đi!” when ordering or commanding in an aggressive way.
You use “…nào!” when ordering or commanding in an encouraging way
Không được means to not be allowed to do something.
You use “Đừng…” when you want to command someone not to do something.
You use “Xin hãy…” when you want to ask for help or favour (please) but in a very desperate way.
Check out sentence examples in our lesson.
How to use đi in Vietnamese?
In Vietnamese you use “…đi!” when ordering or commanding in an aggressive way.
Verb + đi!
Examples:
Cút đi!
Get out!
Đi ngủ đi!
Go to bed!
Ăn đi!
Eat!
How to use Không được in Vietnamese?
Không được means to not be allowed to do something.
Không được + verb
Examples:
Không được ngủ
No sleeping!
Không được ăn
No eating!
Không được uống
No drinking!
How to use Đừng for don’t in Vietnamese?
You use “Đừng…” when you want to command someone not to do something:
Đừng (Don’t) + verb
Examples:
Đừng ngủ
Don’t sleep!
Đừng ăn
Don’t eat!
Đừng uống
Don’t drink!
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