Plural Marker 'các' — Vietnamese Grammar

Vietnamese nouns do not change their form to indicate plurality. Instead, you place a plural marker before the noun. The word is a specific plural marker used to indicate a defined, total group of people or objects.

Unlike a general plural marker, implies that you are referring to all members of a specific set or group that is already known or defined in the context. It functions somewhat like combining the English definite article "the" with a plural noun (e.g., "the students" rather than just "students").

Referring to a Specific Group

Use when addressing or talking about a complete group of specific items or people. It emphasizes that no member of that specific group is excluded.

Các học sinh đang làm bài tập.
The students are doing homework.
Cô ấy đã đọc tất cả các quyển sách này.
She has read all these books.
Các cửa sổ đều mở.
The windows are all open.

Pluralizing Pronouns and Titles

One of the most common uses of is to turn singular personal pronouns or kinship terms into plural forms. This is frequently used when addressing a group of people directly.

bạn (friend/you) becomes (you all/friends).
anh (older brother/man) becomes (you men/those men).
cụ (elder) becomes (the elders).

Chào các bạn!
Hello everyone! (literally: Hello friends)
Mời các bác ngồi.
Please sit down, uncle/aunties. (Addressing a group of older people)
Các con hãy nghe lời mẹ.
Listen to your mother, children.

Difference between 'Các' and 'Những'

Vietnamese has another common plural marker: . While both indicate more than one, they are not interchangeable.

is indefinite. It refers to "some" or general plural items.
is definite. It refers to "the" specific group or "all" of the items mentioned.

For example, if you say , you are talking about "students" or "some students" in general. If you say , you are referring to "the students" (e.g., the specific students in this classroom).

Tôi thấy những con chim.
I see (some) birds.
Tôi thấy các con chim đó.
I see those birds (specifically).

Formal Address

Because is inclusive and specific, it is the standard marker used in formal speeches or announcements to address an audience respectfully.

Thưa các ông, các bà.
Ladies and gentlemen. (Literally: Dear the grandfathers, the grandmothers)
Cảm ơn các quý vị.
Thank you, distinguished guests.

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