Signification
Encouraging someone to persist
Contexte culturel
In the North, especially Hanoi, 'Cố gắng lên' is used with a slightly more formal or 'standard' tone. People might use it to encourage academic or professional excellence. Southerners frequently use 'Ráng lên' instead of 'Cố lên'. It sounds more colloquial and carries a sense of 'enduring' or 'trying against the odds'. During international football matches, 'Việt Nam cố lên!' becomes a national mantra, uniting people across all social classes. Parents often use this phrase to instill a sense of 'Hiếu học' (love for learning) and 'Vượt khó' (overcoming difficulties) in their children from a young age.
Add 'nhé'
Always add 'nhé' at the end when talking to friends to sound more natural and caring.
Tone Matters
If you say it too loudly or aggressively, it can sound like a command. Keep your tone encouraging.
Signification
Encouraging someone to persist
Add 'nhé'
Always add 'nhé' at the end when talking to friends to sound more natural and caring.
Tone Matters
If you say it too loudly or aggressively, it can sound like a command. Keep your tone encouraging.
Use 'Cố lên'
In a stadium or watching sports, just shout 'Cố lên!'. It's much more energetic than the full phrase.
Self-Encouragement
Vietnamese people often say this to themselves. Don't be afraid to mutter 'Cố lên' when you're struggling with a difficult task.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the cheer.
Việt Nam ___ lên!
'Cố lên' is the standard way to cheer for a team.
Which phrase is most appropriate for a friend who is tired of studying for a big exam?
Your friend says: 'Tôi mệt quá, không muốn học nữa.'
This provides the necessary encouragement for the situation.
Choose the most polite and warm version of the phrase.
Which one sounds friendlier?
Adding 'nhé' at the end softens the tone and makes it sound warmer.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Công việc dạo này áp lực quá.' B: '__________, mọi chuyện sẽ ổn thôi.'
Both 'Cố gắng lên' (Try your best) and 'Không sao đâu' (It's okay) work well here to comfort a friend.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Regional Variations
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesViệt Nam ___ lên!
'Cố lên' is the standard way to cheer for a team.
Your friend says: 'Tôi mệt quá, không muốn học nữa.'
This provides the necessary encouragement for the situation.
Which one sounds friendlier?
Adding 'nhé' at the end softens the tone and makes it sound warmer.
A: 'Công việc dạo này áp lực quá.' B: '__________, mọi chuyện sẽ ổn thôi.'
Both 'Cố gắng lên' (Try your best) and 'Không sao đâu' (It's okay) work well here to comfort a friend.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with friends, family, and even colleagues. For very formal situations, 'Nỗ lực' is preferred.
Yes, if your boss is working hard on something, saying 'Sếp cố gắng lên nhé' is actually a very nice way to show support, though it depends on your relationship.
'Cố lên' is just a shorter, more punchy version of 'Cố gắng lên'. It's like the difference between 'Try your best' and 'Go for it!'.
The most common response is 'Cảm ơn, mình sẽ cố gắng' (Thank you, I will try) or simply 'Cảm ơn bạn'.
Yes, the social function is almost identical. Both are used to cheer someone on in various life situations.
Yes, it's very common to say 'Cố gắng lên' to someone recovering from illness to encourage them to get better.
Literally yes, but here it's a grammatical particle that suggests improvement or the start of an action.
You can say either! 'Cố lên' is understood everywhere, but 'Ráng lên' will make you sound more like a local in the South.
Not at all, as long as you use the correct pronouns (e.g., 'Bác cố gắng lên nhé'). It shows you care about them.
Yes, if someone is doing something very easy and failing, saying 'Cố gắng lên' can be sarcastic, but it's not very common.
There isn't a single word, but 'Bỏ cuộc' (to give up) or 'Thất bại' (to fail) are the opposite concepts.
It's the standard way to cheer. It builds collective energy and shows the players that the fans are behind them.
Expressions liées
Cố lên
specialized formShortened version of 'Cố gắng lên'
Ráng lên
similarSouthern dialect version
Nỗ lực
synonymTo make a great effort
Kiên trì
builds onTo be persistent
Tiến lên
similarGo forward / Advance
Đừng bỏ cuộc
contrastDon't give up
