Focus Marker 'thì'

01

Marking the Topic

In Vietnamese, speakers often move the most important part of the sentence to the beginning to emphasize it. thì is placed immediately after this topic to signal that a comment or opinion about it will follow. This structure follows the pattern: Topic + thì + Comment.

This is frequently used when expressing opinions about specific objects or concepts.

• Nhạc này thì hay.

  (As for) this music, it is good.

• Việc đó thì tôi không biết.

  (Regarding) that matter, I do not know.

• Tiếng Việt thì khó.

  Vietnamese is difficult.

02

Expressing Contrast

When comparing two different subjects, thì is used to distinguish them clearly. It highlights that the second subject is different from the first. In this context, it translates roughly to "but" or "whereas."

• Tôi thích trà, còn anh ấy thì thích cà phê.

  I like tea, while he likes coffee.

• Mẹ thì hiền, bố thì nghiêm khắc.

  Mom is gentle, (whereas) Dad is strict.

03

Conditional Sentences (If... Then)

In "If... then" structures, thì acts as the word "then." It connects the condition (the "if" part) with the result. The standard structure is Nếu (If) ... thì (then) ....

While the word nếu (if) can sometimes be omitted in casual speech, thì is usually kept to mark the beginning of the result.

• Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà.

  If it rains, then I stay home.

• Nếu bạn mệt thì nghỉ đi.

  If you are tired, then rest.

• Đắt quá thì đừng mua.

  (If it is) too expensive, then do not buy.

04

Time Sequences

thì is also used to indicate sequence, showing that one action happens immediately after another. It often appears after time phrases or completed actions.

• Ăn xong thì đi.

  (After) finishing eating, then go.

• Khi tôi đến thì anh ấy đang ngủ.

  When I arrived, (then) he was sleeping.