rồi
rồi in 30 Sekunden
- Used at the end of a sentence to show an action is finished (already).
- Acts as a conjunction meaning 'and then' to connect two sequential events.
- Indicates a change in state, like 'It's raining now' (when it wasn't before).
- Commonly paired with 'đã' for emphasis or 'chưa' in questions about completion.
The word rồi is perhaps one of the most essential building blocks for any beginner in Vietnamese. At its core, it functions as an adverb or a sentence-final particle indicating that an action has been completed or a state has been reached. While English speakers often translate it as 'already,' 'ever,' or 'finished,' its utility in Vietnamese is much broader, acting as a marker of the perfective aspect. It tells the listener that the timeline of the verb has crossed the finish line into the past or a completed present state.
- Completion Marker
- The primary use of 'rồi' is to indicate that an action is finished. Unlike English where we change the verb form (eat to ate), Vietnamese verbs stay the same, and we add 'rồi' at the end of the sentence to show completion.
Tôi ăn cơm rồi.
Beyond simple completion, 'rồi' can also signal a change in state. If you say 'Hiểu rồi,' it doesn't just mean you finished the act of understanding; it means you have *now* reached the state of understanding. It is the bridge between the unknown and the known. This makes it indispensable in daily conversation where confirming status is more common than in Western cultures.
- Temporal Sequence
- In more complex sentences, 'rồi' acts as a conjunction meaning 'and then.' It links two sequential actions, showing that the first must be 'already' done before the second begins.
Học bài rồi đi ngủ.
Culturally, 'rồi' is used to provide reassurance. When a Vietnamese person says 'Biết rồi' (I know already), it can be neutral, but if said with a specific falling tone, it might imply 'I've got it, stop reminding me!' Understanding the pragmatic weight of 'rồi' is the difference between sounding like a textbook and sounding like a native speaker. It is ubiquitous in markets, households, and business meetings alike.
- The 'Xong Rồi' Combo
- You will frequently hear 'Xong rồi!' This combines 'xong' (to finish) with 'rồi' (already) to emphasize that a task is completely, 100% finished.
Làm xong rồi!
Using 'rồi' correctly requires understanding sentence architecture in Vietnamese. The most common pattern is [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object] + rồi. This mirrors the English 'I ate already,' but unlike English, 'rồi' cannot easily be placed before the verb in this context. If you want to say 'I already ate,' you do not say 'Tôi rồi ăn'—that is a major grammatical error. You must place it at the end.
- Basic Completion
- To turn any present action into a completed one, just add 'rồi'. For example, 'Trời mưa' (It is raining) becomes 'Trời mưa rồi' (It has started raining / It rained already).
Anh ấy đi rồi.
Another powerful structure is the combination of 'đã' and 'rồi'. While 'đã' is a past tense marker placed before the verb, 'rồi' confirms the completion at the end. Using both—'đã ... rồi'—adds a layer of formality or emphasis, often used when clarifying that something is definitely in the past. For example: 'Tôi đã làm việc đó rồi' (I have already done that work).
- As a Conjunction
- When connecting two clauses, 'rồi' indicates a sequence. Clause 1 happens, 'rồi' (then), Clause 2 happens. Example: 'Ăn cơm rồi uống nước' (Eat rice then drink water).
Chúng tôi thảo luận rồi quyết định.
For advanced learners, 'rồi' can also express a sense of 'anyway' or 'eventually' in certain contexts, especially when paired with 'sẽ' (will). 'Sẽ hiểu rồi' (Will eventually understand). However, for the majority of daily interactions, focus on the sentence-final position to mark that something is 'done and dusted.'
If you walk through the streets of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, 'rồi' is the soundtrack of efficiency. In a restaurant, once you finish your meal, the server might ask 'Xong rồi hả?' (Finished already?). When you pay, you might hear 'Được rồi' (That's good/That's enough). It is a word that lubricates social interactions by providing clear status updates.
- In the Kitchen
- 'Nước sôi rồi!' (The water is boiling already!). Parents use 'rồi' to check on children: 'Làm bài tập chưa?' (Homework yet?) -> 'Con làm rồi!' (I did it already!).
Cơm chín rồi, vào ăn đi!
In professional settings, 'rồi' is used to confirm task completion. 'Gửi email rồi' (Sent the email already). It provides a sense of closure to a discussion. If a boss says 'Được rồi, tôi biết rồi,' they are likely signaling that the conversation is over and they have all the information they need.
You will also hear 'rồi' in emotional contexts. 'Muộn rồi' (It's late already) carries a hint of urgency or regret. 'Hết rồi' (It's all gone/It's over) can be used for everything from running out of fish sauce to ending a romantic relationship. The word 'rồi' anchors the speaker in the reality of the present moment by acknowledging what has passed.
The most frequent mistake English speakers make is trying to map the word 'already' directly onto 'rồi' in terms of word order. In English, you can say 'I already know.' In Vietnamese, you cannot say 'Tôi rồi biết.' This is the number one error for A1 learners. You must say 'Tôi biết rồi.'
- The 'Đã' Confusion
- Many learners assume they must use 'đã' for every past event. However, in spoken Vietnamese, 'rồi' at the end is much more common than 'đã' before the verb. Using 'đã' without 'rồi' can sometimes sound overly formal or like a translated book.
Incorrect: Tôi rồi đi chợ.
Correct: Tôi đi chợ rồi.
Another mistake is using 'rồi' when the action isn't actually finished, but rather is a habit. For 'I usually eat rice,' you don't use 'rồi.' 'Rồi' is strictly for completion or specific state changes. Also, be careful with the word 'xong.' While 'xong' means 'to finish,' 'rồi' is the marker that makes it 'already finished.' Using just 'xong' can sometimes feel like an incomplete thought in a sentence.
While 'rồi' is the king of completion, several other words share its neighborhood. Understanding the nuances between them will elevate your Vietnamese from basic to intermediate.
- Rồi vs. Xong
- 'Xong' is a verb/adjective meaning 'to be finished' (the act of finishing). 'Rồi' is the adverbial marker. You often use them together: 'Làm xong rồi.' If you just say 'Làm xong,' it sounds like 'Finish doing' (an instruction), whereas 'Làm rồi' means 'Did it already.'
- Rồi vs. Đã
- 'Đã' is a pre-verbal marker for the past tense. 'Rồi' is a post-verbal marker for completion. 'Đã' focuses on the time (past), 'rồi' focuses on the result (completion). In 90% of daily speech, 'rồi' is preferred.
Hết rồi vs. Qua rồi.
There is also 'vừa mới' (just recently). While 'rồi' says it's done, 'vừa mới' specifies it was done very recently. 'Tôi ăn rồi' (I ate already) vs 'Tôi vừa mới ăn' (I just ate). Lastly, 'xong xuôi' is a more formal or emphatic version of 'xong rồi,' implying everything is settled and organized.
How Formal Is It?
Wusstest du?
The word 'rảnh' (to be free/available) is often paired with 'rồi' in the phrase 'rảnh rỗi', showing its ancient link to having finished one's duties.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing it with an English 'r' sound.
- Missing the low falling tone, making it sound like 'roi' (whip).
- Pronouncing it too quickly without the glide.
- Over-enunciating the 'r' in the North.
- Using a high tone by mistake.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Very easy to recognize as it usually ends the sentence.
Requires remembering to put it at the end, not before the verb.
The low falling tone needs practice for clarity.
Very common and easy to hear.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Perfective Aspect
Tôi đọc sách rồi.
Sequential Conjunction
Học rồi chơi.
Change of State
Hoa nở rồi.
Emphatic Past with 'Đã'
Tôi đã nói rồi.
Sentence Final Position
Không được nói 'Tôi rồi ăn'.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Tôi ăn rồi.
I ate already.
Subject + Verb + rồi
Hết rồi.
It's all gone / Finished.
Adjective/Verb + rồi
Tôi biết rồi.
I know already.
State of knowing is achieved.
Đi rồi.
Gone already.
Implicit subject (He/She/It).
Hiểu rồi.
Understood.
Change of state: from not knowing to knowing.
Xong rồi.
Finished.
Common phrase for completion.
Đúng rồi.
That's right.
Fixed expression.
Mua rồi.
Bought it already.
Verb + rồi
Tôi đã xem phim đó rồi.
I have already seen that film.
đã + Verb + rồi (Emphasis)
Ăn cơm rồi đi chơi.
Eat rice and then go play.
rồi as a conjunction (then)
Trời mưa rồi.
It has started raining.
Change of state marker.
Bạn làm xong chưa? - Làm rồi.
Have you finished yet? - Did it.
Answering a 'chưa' question.
Tôi gửi thư rồi.
I sent the letter already.
Completion of a specific task.
Học xong rồi ngủ.
Finish studying and then sleep.
Sequential actions.
Được rồi, tôi sẽ giúp.
Okay, I will help.
Được rồi = Okay/Fine.
Xe đến rồi.
The bus/car has arrived.
Arrival as a completed event.
Đợi một chút rồi tôi sẽ đến.
Wait a bit and then I will come.
rồi connecting a wait period and an action.
Mọi việc đã sắp xếp xong rồi.
Everything has been arranged already.
Passive-like completion.
Anh ấy nói rồi lại quên.
He says it and then forgets again.
rồi showing a repetitive or contradictory sequence.
Chúng ta đi thôi, muộn rồi.
Let's go, it's late already.
Using 'rồi' to show urgency.
Tôi đã nói với cô ấy rồi.
I already told her.
Completion of communication.
Uống thuốc rồi sẽ khỏi.
Take the medicine and then you'll recover.
Conditional sequence.
Thế là hết rồi.
That's it, it's all over.
Emotional finality.
Cơm chín rồi, mời cả nhà ăn.
The rice is cooked, everyone come eat.
Social invitation based on completion.
Cứ thử đi rồi sẽ biết.
Just try it and then you'll know.
Encouragement using future certainty.
Làm cho xong rồi hãy nghỉ.
Do it until it's finished, then rest.
Imperative with sequence.
Chuyện đó qua lâu rồi.
That matter passed a long time ago.
Emphasis on time elapsed.
Tôi đã chuẩn bị kỹ rồi mới báo cáo.
I prepared carefully and then reported.
Logical sequence of professional actions.
Nói rồi mà không nghe.
I told you already but you didn't listen.
rồi mà (Emphasis/Reproach).
Ăn xong rồi dọn dẹp luôn nhé.
Eat then clean up immediately, okay?
Requesting immediate sequence.
Anh ta đi rồi, không quay lại đâu.
He's gone and won't come back.
Finality in a narrative.
Đợi cơm chín rồi hãy tắm.
Wait for the rice to be cooked and then bathe.
Temporal constraint.
Rồi một ngày, bạn sẽ hiểu tại sao.
Then one day, you will understand why.
rồi used at the start for future inevitability.
Mọi nỗ lực rồi cũng sẽ được đền đáp.
Every effort will eventually be rewarded.
rồi cũng (Eventually).
Họ cãi nhau rồi lại làm hòa.
They argue and then make up again.
Cycle of actions.
Cuộc vui nào rồi cũng đến hồi kết.
Every party eventually comes to an end.
Philosophical use of 'rồi'.
Tôi đã cân nhắc kỹ rồi mới đưa ra quyết định này.
I considered it carefully before making this decision.
Formal justification.
Đừng lo, rồi đâu sẽ vào đó.
Don't worry, eventually everything will fall into place.
Idiomatic comfort.
Anh ấy đã hứa rồi thì sẽ làm.
Since he promised, he will do it.
Conditional based on a past act.
Hoa nở rồi lại tàn.
Flowers bloom and then fade.
Natural cycles.
Sự việc đã rồi, không thể vãn hồi.
The matter is done, it cannot be reversed.
Sự việc đã rồi (The fait accompli).
Rồi đây, lịch sử sẽ phán xét chúng ta.
From now on, history will judge us.
Formal temporal transition.
Thế rồi, bóng tối bao trùm lấy vạn vật.
And then, darkness enveloped everything.
Literary narrative transition.
Nói cho cùng, rồi ai cũng phải già đi.
Ultimately, everyone must grow old.
Universal truth.
Dẫu biết là khó, nhưng rồi cũng phải thử.
Despite knowing it's hard, one must try eventually.
Concessive sequence.
Trải qua bao sóng gió rồi mới thấu hiểu lòng nhau.
Only after many storms did they understand each other.
Complex life sequence.
Mọi chuyện rồi sẽ trôi vào dĩ vãng.
Everything will eventually drift into the past.
Poetic finality.
Đã trót làm rồi thì phải làm cho đến cùng.
Since you've already started, you must finish it.
Moral obligation from completion.
Synonyme
Gegenteile
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— I know already, it's tiring to hear it repeatedly.
Biết rồi khổ lắm nói mãi, đừng nhắc nữa.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
'Xong' is the act of finishing, 'rồi' is the state of being already finished.
'Đã' is past tense, 'rồi' is completion. They are often used together but have different positions.
'Mới' can mean 'just' or 'newly', whereas 'rồi' is just 'already'.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— A fait accompli; something that has happened and cannot be changed.
Sự việc đã rồi, trách móc cũng vô ích.
Formal— The rice has become cooked rice; what's done is done.
Đừng lo nữa, gạo đã thành cơm rồi.
Informal— To say something and then take it back or not do it.
Anh ta toàn nói rồi lại thôi.
Neutral— Everything will eventually work itself out.
Cứ bình tĩnh, rồi đâu sẽ vào đó.
Neutral— Life is over (used hyperbolically for being in big trouble).
Phen này thì xong đời rồi!
Slang— Laughing then crying (emotional instability).
Đứa trẻ mới cười rồi lại khóc.
NeutralLeicht verwechselbar
Same spelling without the tone.
'Roi' means a whip or a water apple fruit. 'Rồi' means already.
Cây roi (the whip) vs. Ăn rồi (ate already).
Homonym in some dialects.
'Con ruồi' means a fly (insect). In some dialects, the pronunciation is similar.
Con ruồi bay (The fly flies).
Different tone (hook/rising).
'Rối' means tangled or confused.
Tóc rối (tangled hair).
Different tone (tilde).
'Rỗi' means free or leisure time.
Rảnh rỗi (free time).
Function change.
Same word, but functions as 'then' instead of 'already'.
Làm rồi đi (Do then go).
Satzmuster
S + V + rồi
Tôi ăn rồi.
Adj + rồi
Đẹp rồi.
S + đã + V + rồi
Anh đã làm rồi.
V1 + rồi + V2
Ăn rồi đi.
V + xong + rồi
Viết xong rồi.
S + V + rồi mà
Em nói rồi mà.
Rồi + S + sẽ + V
Rồi bạn sẽ hiểu.
Sự việc + đã rồi
Sự việc đã rồi.
Wortfamilie
Verwandt
So verwendest du es
Extremely high; one of the top 50 most used words in Vietnamese.
Tipps
The End Rule
Always keep 'rồi' at the end of your sentence when you want to say 'already'. It acts as a full stop for the action.
Tone Matters
Ensure your voice drops low. If you use a high tone, people might think you are saying 'confused' (rối).
Polite Declining
Use 'Em/Tôi ăn rồi' to politely decline food offerings without being rude.
The 'R' Sound
Be prepared for the Northern 'Z' sound and the Southern
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'rồi' as 'ROLL'. When an action is finished, you ROLL it away into the past.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a green 'DONE' stamp hitting a piece of paper. The sound of that stamp is 'RỒI!'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to end every sentence describing your day with 'rồi'. 'Tôi dậy rồi. Tôi tắm rồi. Tôi ăn rồi.'
Wortherkunft
From Middle Vietnamese 'rồi', likely related to Mon-Khmer roots signifying completion or cessation.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Finished, completed, free from work.
Austroasiatic / Mon-Khmer.Kultureller Kontext
Be careful with 'Biết rồi!' as it can sound dismissive to elders if said too sharply.
English speakers use 'already' in various positions. Vietnamese speakers are much stricter: 'rồi' goes at the end.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
At a Restaurant
- Ăn xong rồi.
- Tính tiền rồi.
- Hết món này rồi.
- Được rồi, cảm ơn.
At Work
- Gửi báo cáo rồi.
- Họp xong rồi.
- Biết việc rồi.
- Làm rồi ạ.
At Home
- Cơm chín rồi.
- Đi ngủ rồi.
- Tắm rồi.
- Dọn dẹp rồi.
On the Street
- Xe đi rồi.
- Đến nơi rồi.
- Lạc đường rồi.
- Mua vé rồi.
In Relationships
- Chia tay rồi.
- Kết hôn rồi.
- Gặp rồi.
- Nói chuyện rồi.
Gesprächseinstiege
"Bạn ăn cơm chưa? - Ăn rồi!"
"Bạn xem phim này chưa? - Xem rồi, hay lắm."
"Hôm nay bạn làm xong việc chưa?"
"Bạn đến Việt Nam lâu chưa? - Đến 2 tháng rồi."
"Bạn hiểu bài này chưa? - Hiểu rồi ạ."
Tagebuch-Impulse
Write about three things you have already done today using 'rồi'.
Describe a sequence of your morning routine using 'rồi' as 'then'.
Write about a goal you have already achieved this year.
Describe a change in the weather today using 'rồi'.
Reflect on a past mistake that is now 'qua rồi'.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, when used at the beginning of a sentence like 'Rồi tôi sẽ làm' (Eventually I will do it), it indicates a future certainty.
'Ăn rồi' means 'I ate already.' 'Ăn xong rồi' emphasizes 'I have finished eating already.'
It is the most common way to show past actions in speech, even more than the word 'đã'.
Yes, in the phrase 'Được rồi' it can mean 'That is enough' or 'Okay'.
You use '...chưa?' at the end, not 'rồi?'. Example: 'Ăn chưa?'
It's a famous idiom used when someone is nagged about something they already know.
Yes, but often accompanied by 'đã' to clarify the perfective aspect.
Yes, 'rồi' (already), 'rối' (confused), 'rỗi' (leisure), 'roi' (whip) are all different words.
Only if it means 'then' and connects two clauses. You cannot put it before a single verb to mean 'already'.
It's an exclamation like 'Oh no!' or 'It's doomed!'
Summary
The word 'rồi' is the essential 'completion marker' in Vietnamese. Always place it at the end of the sentence to show something is done. Example: 'Tôi làm rồi' (I did it already).
- Used at the end of a sentence to show an action is finished (already).
- Acts as a conjunction meaning 'and then' to connect two sequential events.
- Indicates a change in state, like 'It's raining now' (when it wasn't before).
- Commonly paired with 'đã' for emphasis or 'chưa' in questions about completion.
The End Rule
Always keep 'rồi' at the end of your sentence when you want to say 'already'. It acts as a full stop for the action.
Tone Matters
Ensure your voice drops low. If you use a high tone, people might think you are saying 'confused' (rối).
Polite Declining
Use 'Em/Tôi ăn rồi' to politely decline food offerings without being rude.
The 'R' Sound
Be prepared for the Northern 'Z' sound and the Southern
Verwandte Inhalte
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr general Wörter
an toàn
A1Safe
bắt đầu
A1Beginnen; anfangen. 'Der Film beginnt um acht' wird zu 'Phim bắt đầu lúc tám giờ'.
bình thường
A1Normal; gewöhnlich. 'Das Wetter ist heute bình thường.' (The weather is normal today.) 'Es ist bình thường, Angst zu haben.' (It is normal to be afraid.)
cam
A1Orange (color/fruit)
chắc chắn
A1Certainly; sure
chưa
A1Not yet
chuyển
A1To move; to transfer
có lẽ
A1Maybe; perhaps
cực kỳ
A1'Cực kỳ' bedeutet auf Vietnamesisch 'extrem' oder 'äußerst'. Es wird vor Adjektive gesetzt, um deren Bedeutung stark zu betonen.
đặc biệt
A1Das Wort 'đặc biệt' bedeutet 'besonders' oder 'speziell'.