Result Complement 'thấy'

01

Sensory Verbs: Action vs. Result

English often uses different verbs to distinguish between the effort and the result (e.g., "to look" vs. "to see", "to listen" vs. "to hear"). Vietnamese simply adds thấy to the action verb.

• nhìn (to look) + thấy = nhìn thấy (to see)
• nghe (to listen) + thấy = nghe thấy (to hear)
• ngửi (to sniff) + thấy = ngửi thấy (to smell something)

Without thấy, the verb only implies the attempt. If you say tôi nhìn, it means you are looking, but you might not see anything. If you say tôi nhìn thấy, you have successfully seen the object.

• Bạn có nghe thấy tiếng nhạc không?

  Do you hear the music?

• Tôi ngửi thấy mùi cà phê.

  I smell coffee.

• Làm ơn nói lớn lên, tôi nghe không thấy.

  Please speak up, I don't hear (you).

02

Searching and Finding

This logic also applies to searching. The verb tìm (or kiếm in Southern dialect) means "to search" or "to look for". To express "to find", you must add thấy.

• tìm / kiếm (to search) + thấy = tìm thấy / kiếm thấy (to find)

• Anh đang kiếm chìa khóa xe.

  I am looking for the car keys.

• Anh đã kiếm thấy chìa khóa rồi.

  I have found the keys already.

03

Expressing Feelings and Opinions

When used on its own without a preceding verb, thấy functions like the English verbs "to feel" or "to find (something to be)". It is used to describe physical sensations or personal opinions about a situation.

• Hôm nay tôi thấy mệt.

  I feel tired today.

• Bạn thấy món này ngon không?

  Do you find this dish delicious?

• Tôi thấy phim này hơi chán.

  I find this movie a bit boring.

04

Shortening to 'Thấy'

In casual spoken Vietnamese, especially in the South, speakers often drop the initial action verb if the context is clear. For example, instead of saying nhìn thấy (to see), one might just say thấy.

• Tôi không thấy đường.

  I don't see the road. (Short for nhìn thấy)