At the A1 level, 'đến' is primarily used as a basic verb of motion meaning 'to come' or 'to arrive'. Learners use it to describe their daily movements, such as coming to class, arriving at a restaurant, or visiting a friend's house. It is also introduced in the 'từ... đến...' (from... to...) structure for basic numbers and times. The focus is on physical arrival and simple temporal limits. Sentences are usually short and direct, like 'Tôi đến nhà' or 'Học từ 8 giờ đến 10 giờ'.
At the A2 level, learners begin to use 'đến' in compound verb structures and more complex time expressions. You will start to see 'đến' combined with other verbs like 'đi đến' (go to) or 'chạy đến' (run to). The usage expands to include invitations and welcoming others ('Chào mừng đến với...'). Learners also start to encounter 'đến' in the context of weather or changing states, such as 'mùa hè đến' (summer arrives). Understanding the distinction between 'đến' and 'tới' in regional dialects becomes relevant here.
At the B1 level, 'đến' takes on more abstract meanings. It is used to describe reaching a certain level, stage, or result in a process. For example, 'vấn đề đã đến lúc phải giải quyết' (the problem has reached the time it must be solved). Learners also use 'đến' to introduce topics in discussion ('Nói đến chuyện đó...' - Speaking of that matter...). The word begins to appear in common idioms and more varied grammatical positions, such as following an adjective to show intensity ('đẹp đến mức...' - beautiful to the point that...).
At the B2 level, students master the use of 'đến' as a particle of emphasis, meaning 'even'. For example, 'Đến cả anh ấy cũng không biết' (Even he doesn't know). This requires a shift in understanding from a verb of motion to a grammatical marker. You will also use 'đến' in more formal reports and academic writing to describe data ranges, limits, and correlations ('ảnh hưởng đến...' - to affect/influence). The nuances between 'đến', 'tới', and 'đạt' in professional settings are refined.
At the C1 level, 'đến' is used with high precision in literary and rhetorical contexts. It appears in complex sentence structures to denote extreme consequences or emotional states ('đau đớn đến xé lòng' - painful to the point of heart-wrenching). Learners can use it to frame sophisticated arguments, such as 'Xét đến khía cạnh...' (Considering the aspect of...). The word's role in classical literature and formal oratory is explored, where it can signify profound transitions or historical arrivals.
At the C2 level, a speaker uses 'đến' with the fluidity of a native, capturing every subtle shade of meaning from physical arrival to philosophical reach. They can distinguish between 'đến' and its synonyms in highly specialized fields like law, science, or high-level diplomacy. The word is used effortlessly in creative writing to create rhythm and emphasis. A C2 learner understands the etymological roots and how 'đến' has evolved in various Vietnamese dialects and historical texts.

Đến in 30 Sekunden

  • Đến primarily means 'to come' or 'to arrive' at a physical location or destination in Vietnamese.
  • It functions as a preposition meaning 'to' or 'until' when used in time ranges and numerical sequences.
  • The word is commonly paired with 'từ' (from) to create the 'từ... đến...' (from... to...) structure.
  • In advanced contexts, it can act as an emphatic particle meaning 'even' or show the intensity of an action.

The Vietnamese word đến is a foundational verb and preposition that every learner must master at the A1 level. At its core, it signifies movement toward a specific destination or the achievement of a particular state or time. Unlike English, where 'come' and 'arrive' are distinct, đến often covers both nuances, depending on the context of the sentence. It is one of the most versatile words in the Vietnamese lexicon, appearing in daily greetings, travel instructions, and mathematical or temporal ranges.

Primary Action
The most common use is to indicate physical arrival at a location. When you say you are 'coming' to a friend's house or 'arriving' at the airport, đến is your go-to verb. It implies the completion of a journey or the point of reaching the goal.
Temporal Boundary
In a non-physical sense, it marks the end of a time period. For example, 'from Monday to Friday' uses đến to signify the limit. It functions similarly to 'until' or 'to' in English time expressions.
Resultative Aspect
It often attaches to other verbs to show that the action reached its intended target. For instance, 'nhìn' (to look) becomes 'nhìn đến' (to look toward/at) or 'nghĩ' (to think) becomes 'nghĩ đến' (to think of/about), indicating the thought has arrived at a specific topic.

Tôi vừa đến Việt Nam sáng nay.

I just arrived in Vietnam this morning.

When people use đến, they are focusing on the destination rather than the departure. This distinguishes it from 'đi' (to go). If you are standing at the airport waiting for a friend, you would ask, 'Khi nào bạn đến?' (When do you arrive?). However, if you are at home planning to go to the airport, you would say, 'Tôi đi đến sân bay' (I am going to the airport). The word carries a sense of presence at the target location.

Chào mừng bạn đến với gia đình chúng tôi.

Welcome to our family.

Furthermore, đến is used in expressing quantities or limits. 'Từ 5 đến 10 người' means 'From 5 to 10 people.' This versatility makes it an indispensable tool for constructing complex sentences even at the beginner level. You will hear it in weather reports ('nhiệt độ giảm đến 15 độ' - temperature drops to 15 degrees) and in emotional contexts ('điều đó làm tôi cảm động đến phát khóc' - that moved me to the point of crying).

Làm việc từ sáng đến tối.

Working from morning until night.

Using đến correctly requires understanding its position relative to other verbs and nouns. In its simplest form, it follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern common in Vietnamese. However, its role as a directional particle adds layers to sentence structure that are vital for fluency.

Direct Verb Usage
When đến is the main verb, it is followed directly by the destination. Unlike English, you do not need an extra preposition like 'at' or 'to' if đến already implies arrival. Example: 'Tôi đến trường' (I arrive at school).
Compound Verb Usage
It often follows a primary verb of motion like 'đi' (go), 'chạy' (run), or 'bay' (fly). In this case, đến acts as the directional marker. Example: 'Anh ấy đi bộ đến công ty' (He walks to the office).
The 'Từ... Đến...' Structure
This is the standard way to express ranges. It can be applied to distance, time, or quantity. Example: 'Từ Hà Nội đến Sài Gòn' (From Hanoi to Saigon).

Bạn đến đây bằng gì?

How did you get here? (By what means did you come here?)

One important nuance is the use of đến in invitations. When you invite someone to your house, you say 'Mời bạn đến chơi' (Invite you to come and play/visit). Here, đến creates a welcoming tone. In contrast, using 'đi' might sound like you are telling them to go somewhere else.

Mùa xuân đã đến rồi.

Spring has arrived already.

In formal writing, đến is used to introduce topics or concerns. 'Liên quan đến...' (Related to...) or 'Nói đến...' (Speaking of...). This demonstrates how the concept of 'arriving' at a topic translates into abstract linguistic structures. For students, focusing on the physical arrival first is key, then slowly expanding into these metaphorical uses.

Đừng đến trễ nhé!

Don't arrive late, okay!

Finally, remember the word order when using adverbs of time. Phrases like 'mới đến' (just arrived), 'sắp đến' (about to arrive), or 'đã đến' (already arrived) place the temporal marker before the verb. This is consistent with general Vietnamese grammar rules but is particularly vital for đến because timing is often the most important part of arrival-based communication.

You will encounter đến in almost every social setting in Vietnam. Its frequency is incredibly high because it deals with the basic human activity of movement and time. Whether you are at a bustling market, a quiet cafe, or a formal office, đến is likely to be part of the conversation within the first few minutes.

Transportation Hubs
At airports (sân bay) and train stations (ga tàu), announcements constantly use đến to signify arrivals. 'Chuyến bay từ Paris đã đến' (The flight from Paris has arrived). You will also see it on display boards under the 'Arrivals' column, often translated as 'Giờ đến' (Arrival time).
Social Invitations
Vietnamese culture is very hospitable. You will hear 'Đến nhà tôi chơi' (Come to my house to hang out) frequently. It is the standard way to invite friends over. Similarly, at weddings or parties, the host will thank you by saying 'Cảm ơn bạn đã đến' (Thank you for coming).
News and Media
News anchors use đến to describe events reaching a certain scale or officials arriving at a summit. 'Chủ tịch đã đến thăm...' (The President has arrived to visit...). It is also used in weather forecasts to describe storms approaching the coast.

Xe buýt số 7 sắp đến trạm.

Bus number 7 is about to arrive at the station.

In the workplace, đến is used to track attendance and deadlines. 'Bạn đến công ty lúc mấy giờ?' (What time do you come to the office?). It is also used in project management: 'Dự án đã đến giai đoạn cuối' (The project has reached the final stage). This transition from physical movement to abstract progress is a key feature of the word in professional environments.

Khi nào anh đến lấy hàng?

When will you come to pick up the goods?

In literature and music, đến often carries emotional weight. Songs about the coming of spring or a lover returning home use đến to evoke feelings of anticipation and joy. Phrases like 'tình yêu đến' (love comes) or 'nỗi buồn tìm đến' (sadness finds its way to me) are common poetic expressions that help learners understand the deeper cultural resonance of the word.

While đến seems simple, English speakers often make specific errors due to the differences in how 'come', 'go', and 'arrive' function in Vietnamese. Understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker.

Confusing 'Đến' with 'Đi'
In English, we say 'I'm coming!' when we are actually 'going' toward someone. In Vietnamese, you should use 'đến' only if you are focusing on the destination. If you are leaving your current spot to go somewhere, 'đi' is often more appropriate. Saying 'Tôi đang đến' while you are still at home might confuse a Vietnamese speaker about your current location.
Overusing Prepositions
English speakers often try to add 'ở' (at) or 'vào' (into) after đến. For example, 'đến ở trường' is incorrect. The correct form is simply 'đến trường'. Đến already contains the directional 'to' or 'at' within its meaning as a verb of motion.
Misplacing 'Đến' in Ranges
When expressing 'from A to B', some learners forget the 'từ' (from) or put đến in the wrong place. Remember the fixed structure: Từ [Point A] đến [Point B].

Sai: Tôi đến ở nhà bạn.

Wrong: I arrive at at friend's house. (Correct: Tôi đến nhà bạn.)

Another mistake involves the word 'tới'. While often synonymous, 'tới' is frequently used in Southern Vietnam, whereas đến is more common in the North. However, đến is universally understood and preferred in formal contexts. Using 'tới' in a very formal speech might sound slightly too casual, though it is rarely a major error.

Đừng nhầm: Đến (arrive) vs Đen (black).

Avoid confusion between 'đến' and 'đen' (color black) or 'đèn' (lamp).

Lastly, learners sometimes forget that đến can be used as a preposition of time without a verb. 'Đến trưa, tôi sẽ đi' (By noon, I will go). Some try to force a verb like 'vào' or 'lúc' here, but đến alone is sufficient to mark the time limit or the point when an action will occur.

To truly master Vietnamese, you need to know when to use đến and when to choose a synonym that might fit the context better. Vietnamese has several words for 'arriving' or 'reaching' that vary by region and nuance.

Tới vs Đến
These are the most common pair. In most cases, they are interchangeable. However, 'tới' is heavily used in Southern Vietnam (Saigon). In Northern Vietnam (Hanoi), 'đến' is the standard. 'Tới' also has a meaning of 'forward' or 'next' (e.g., 'tuần tới' - next week), which 'đến' does not share.
Cập bến
This is a specific term for ships or boats arriving at a dock. You wouldn't use đến here if you wanted to be technically correct. 'Cập bến' literally means 'to touch the shore/dock'.
Đạt được
When talking about reaching a goal or achieving a result, 'đạt được' is more appropriate than đến. While you can say 'đến đích' (reach the finish line), 'đạt được kết quả' (reach/achieve a result) is the standard for abstract goals.

So sánh: Đến trường vs Tới trường.

Comparison: Both mean 'to school', but 'đến' is more formal/Northern.

In some contexts, 'lại' is used as a synonym for 'come' when the movement is toward the speaker. 'Lại đây' means 'Come here'. While 'Đến đây' also means 'Come here', 'Lại đây' is much more common for short distances or casual requests. 'Đến đây' sounds more like you are arriving from a far distance.

Tàu cập bến an toàn.

The ship docked safely.

For time, 'cho tới' is a common alternative to đến when you want to emphasize the duration. 'Làm việc cho tới khuya' (Working all the way until late at night). The addition of 'cho' adds a sense of persistence. Understanding these subtle shifts helps you transition from basic communication to expressive, nuanced Vietnamese.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ɗen˧˥/
US /ɗen˧˥/
Vietnamese is a tonal language, so there is no word stress in the English sense; each syllable has its own tone.
Reimt sich auf
bến mến nến hến kén lên quên tên
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing 'đ' like a regular English 'd' (it should be implosive).
  • Using a flat tone instead of the rising 'sắc' tone.
  • Confusing the 'ê' sound with the 'e' sound (ê is closed, e is open).
  • Failing to close the 'n' sound at the end of the word.
  • Mixing up 'đến' with 'đen' (black) which has a flat tone.

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Tôi đến trường lúc 7 giờ.

I arrive at school at 7 o'clock.

Simple Subject + Verb + Destination + Time structure.

2

Bạn đến từ đâu?

Where do you come from?

'Đến từ' is the standard phrase for origin.

3

Mẹ tôi đang đến nhà.

My mother is coming home.

'Đang' indicates continuous action.

4

Từ một đến mười.

From one to ten.

'Từ... đến...' used for numerical range.

5

Xe buýt đã đến.

The bus has arrived.

'Đã' marks the completed action.

6

Anh ấy đến muộn.

He arrived late.

Adjective 'muộn' follows the verb.

7

Chào mừng bạn đến Việt Nam!

Welcome to Vietnam!

Common greeting phrase.

8

Tôi đi đến bưu điện.

I am going to the post office.

Compound verb 'đi đến'.

1

Khi nào bạn đến văn phòng?

When do you arrive at the office?

'Khi nào' asks for future time.

2

Chúng tôi đi bộ đến công viên.

We walk to the park.

Method of travel + 'đến' + destination.

3

Mùa hè sắp đến rồi.

Summer is about to arrive.

'Sắp... rồi' indicates imminent future.

4

Bạn có thể đến đây không?

Can you come here?

Standard 'có thể... không?' question structure.

5

Tôi làm việc từ thứ Hai đến thứ Sáu.

I work from Monday to Friday.

'Từ... đến...' used for days of the week.

6

Hãy đến đúng giờ nhé.

Please arrive on time.

'Hãy' is used for polite commands/requests.

7

Tàu hỏa đến ga lúc mấy giờ?

What time does the train arrive at the station?

'Mấy giờ' asks for specific time.

8

Cô ấy mang quà đến cho tôi.

She brought a gift to me.

Verb 'mang' (carry) + Object + 'đến cho' (to give to).

1

Chúng ta hãy nói đến kế hoạch mới.

Let's talk about the new plan.

'Nói đến' means to talk about/refer to.

2

Vấn đề này ảnh hưởng đến mọi người.

This issue affects everyone.

'Ảnh hưởng đến' is a common collocation for 'affect'.

3

Tôi đã nghĩ đến việc chuyển nhà.

I have thought about moving house.

'Nghĩ đến' indicates the object of thought.

4

Anh ấy làm tôi cười đến đau bụng.

He made me laugh until my stomach hurt.

'Đến' used here to show the extent/result of an action.

5

Cuộc họp kéo dài đến tận đêm khuya.

The meeting lasted until late at night.

'Đến tận' emphasizes the lateness/distance.

6

Bạn nên tìm đến bác sĩ để tư vấn.

You should seek out a doctor for advice.

'Tìm đến' means to seek out or approach someone.

7

Giá xăng tăng đến mức kỷ lục.

Gas prices increased to a record level.

'Đến mức' means 'to the level/point of'.

8

Mọi chuyện rồi sẽ đến đâu?

Where will everything lead to?

Idiomatic use asking about the outcome of a situation.

1

Đến cả trẻ con cũng hiểu điều này.

Even children understand this.

'Đến cả... cũng' is the emphatic structure for 'even'.

2

Sự việc đã đi đến hồi kết.

The matter has come to an end.

Idiomatic expression for reaching a final stage.

3

Ông ấy không bao giờ nhắc đến quá khứ.

He never mentions the past.

'Nhắc đến' means to mention or refer to.

4

Chỉ số ô nhiễm đã đến mức báo động.

The pollution index has reached an alarming level.

Formal usage in environmental contexts.

5

Đừng để khó khăn làm bạn chùn bước đến vậy.

Don't let difficulties make you hesitate that much.

'Đến vậy' acts as an intensifier meaning 'to that extent'.

6

Nghiên cứu này dẫn đến nhiều khám phá mới.

This research leads to many new discoveries.

'Dẫn đến' means 'to lead to' (causality).

7

Tôi không ngờ mọi chuyện lại tệ đến thế.

I didn't expect things to be that bad.

'Đến thế' is another intensifier for degree.

8

Liên quan đến vấn đề này, tôi có ý kiến.

Regarding this issue, I have an opinion.

'Liên quan đến' is a formal prepositional phrase.

1

Xét đến cùng, lỗi không thuộc về ai.

When all is said and done, the fault belongs to no one.

'Xét đến cùng' is a sophisticated phrase meaning 'ultimately'.

2

Tác phẩm chạm đến những góc khuất của tâm hồn.

The work touches the hidden corners of the soul.

Metaphorical use of 'chạm đến' (reach/touch).

3

Đến như ông ấy mà còn thất bại thì sao?

If even someone like him failed, then what?

'Đến như... mà còn' is a high-level emphatic structure.

4

Vẻ đẹp ấy khiến người ta mê đắm đến lạ lùng.

That beauty makes people strangely infatuated.

'Đến lạ lùng' is an adverbial phrase of degree.

5

Câu chuyện gợi đến những kỷ niệm xa xưa.

The story evokes ancient memories.

'Gợi đến' means to evoke or bring to mind.

6

Không một ai có thể ngăn cản bước chân anh ấy tìm đến thành công.

No one can stop his footsteps in seeking success.

Literary use of 'tìm đến'.

7

Sự kiên trì đã đưa ông đến đỉnh cao sự nghiệp.

Perseverance brought him to the pinnacle of his career.

'Đưa... đến' means to bring/lead someone to a state.

8

Đến nay, chúng tôi vẫn chưa nhận được phản hồi.

Until now, we still haven't received a response.

'Đến nay' is a formal temporal marker.

1

Triết lý của ông thâm sâu đến mức khó lòng thấu thị.

His philosophy is so profound that it is difficult to perceive.

Advanced vocabulary (thấu thị) paired with 'đến mức'.

2

Sự biến đổi khí hậu đã dẫn đến những hệ lụy khôn lường.

Climate change has led to unpredictable consequences.

'Dẫn đến' used with formal 'hệ lụy' (consequences).

3

Những lời chỉ trích cay nghiệt đến xé lòng.

The harsh criticisms were heart-wrenching.

Hyperbolic/Literary use of 'đến' for emotional intensity.

4

Đến một lúc nào đó, chân lý sẽ được phơi bày.

At some point, the truth will be revealed.

Philosophical use of 'Đến một lúc nào đó'.

5

Ông ấy đã cống hiến đến hơi thở cuối cùng.

He dedicated himself until his very last breath.

Idiomatic expression for lifelong commitment.

6

Quyền lực đã làm tha hóa con người đến cực độ.

Power corrupted the person to the extreme.

'Đến cực độ' means to the extreme degree.

7

Vấn đề này cần được xem xét thấu đáo đến từng chi tiết.

This issue needs to be considered thoroughly down to every detail.

'Đến từng' emphasizes meticulousness.

8

Tình hữu nghị giữa hai nước đã đạt đến tầm cao mới.

The friendship between the two countries has reached a new height.

Diplomatic/Formal usage of 'đạt đến'.

Synonyme

tới lại cập bến đạt ghé tìm đến về sang

Gegenteile

đi rời khỏi xuất phát khởi hành

Häufige Kollokationen

đến nơi
đến lúc
đến trễ
đến gần
đến lượt
đến thăm
đến mức
đến từ
đến sau
đến trước

Häufige Phrasen

Chào mừng đến với...

— The standard way to welcome someone to a place or group.

Chào mừng đến với công ty chúng tôi.

Từ... đến...

— Used to express a range in time, space, or quantity.

Học từ sáng đến chiều.

Cho đến nay

— Means 'up to now' or 'so far'.

Cho đến nay, mọi thứ vẫn ổn.

Đến khi nào?

— A question asking 'Until when?' or 'How long?'.

Bạn ở lại đây đến khi nào?

Sắp đến rồi

— Used to say something is about to arrive or happen soon.

Tết sắp đến rồi.

Đến tận nơi

— To go all the way to a specific spot, often showing effort.

Tôi sẽ giao hàng đến tận nơi.

Chưa đến lúc

— Meaning 'it is not time yet' or 'not the right moment'.

Chưa đến lúc để nói ra sự thật.

Nói đến là...

— Used when mentioning something immediately triggers a thought/action.

Nói đến là anh ấy thích ngay.

Đến thế là cùng

— An expression meaning 'that is the limit' or 'it can't get worse/better'.

Lười đến thế là cùng.

Đi đến đâu?

— Asking 'where is this going?' or 'where are you heading?'.

Con đường này đi đến đâu?

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Nước đến chân mới nhảy"

— To wait until the last minute before taking action (literally: water reaches the feet before jumping).

Đừng để nước đến chân mới nhảy, hãy học bài đi.

informal
"Đi đến nơi, về đến chốn"

— To complete a journey safely and responsibly (literally: go to the place, return to the spot).

Chúc con đi đến nơi, về đến chốn.

neutral
"Cái khó ló cái khôn"

— Necessity is the mother of invention (used when a difficult situation leads to a solution).

Trong lúc nguy cấp, cái khó ló cái khôn đã giúp anh ấy.

neutral
"Đến hẹn lại lên"

— Something that happens periodically as expected.

Đến hẹn lại lên, hoa mai lại nở vào dịp Tết.

neutral
"Cười đến rách miệng"

— To laugh extremely hard (literally: laugh until the mouth tears).

Phim hài này làm tôi cười đến rách miệng.

informal
"Gậy ông đập lưng ông"

— To be hoist with one's own petard (one's own actions come back to hurt them).

Hắn định lừa người khác nhưng lại bị gậy ông đập lưng ông.

neutral
"Vạn sự khởi đầu nan"

— All things are difficult before they are easy (the beginning is always hard).

Đừng bỏ cuộc, vạn sự khởi đầu nan mà.

neutral
"Đến đâu hay đến đó"

— To cross that bridge when we come to it (deal with things as they happen).

Chúng ta cứ đi thôi, đến đâu hay đến đó.

informal
"Lên xe hoa"

— To get married (for a woman; literally: to get on the flower carriage).

Tháng sau cô ấy sẽ lên xe hoa về nhà chồng.

literary
"Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn"

— Travel broadens the mind (literally: go one day's journey, learn a basket of wisdom).

Hãy đi du lịch nhiều hơn, đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn.

neutral

Wortfamilie

Substantive

điểm đến (destination)
giờ đến (arrival time)
nơi đến (place of arrival)

Verben

đến (to come/arrive)
đi đến (to go to)
tìm đến (to seek out)
dẫn đến (to lead to)

Verwandt

tới
về
đạt
ghé
lại
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