nêu trên
Aforementioned
nêu trên means aforementioned or stated above. It attaches to the end of a noun phrase and is strictly reserved for formal writing.
How It Works
In formal Vietnamese, such as in legal documents or administrative texts, nêu trên is used to refer back to something already introduced to avoid repetition.
Key Rules & Patterns:
- Word Order: When modifying a noun, it must follow the noun phrase. The structure is usually: [Plural marker/Classifier] + [Noun] + nêu trên (e.g., các vấn đề nêu trên - the aforementioned issues). It is largely interchangeable with synonyms like nói trên and kể trên. Conversely, its antonyms are nêu dưới đây and nêu sau đây (mentioned below/following).
- Common Variant: An extremely common and completely interchangeable variant is nêu ở trên (literally: mentioned at above). Phrases like như đã nêu ở trên or các vấn đề nêu ở trên are ubiquitous in formal texts.
- Common Collocations: It frequently pairs with formal head nouns such as nội dung (content), vấn đề (issue), trường hợp (case), and lý do (reason).
- Optional Markers: You will often see it with tense or passive markers, such as đã nêu trên (already stated above) or được nêu trên (which was stated above).
- As Mentioned Above: A very common adverbial phrase is Như đã nêu trên (As mentioned above), used at the beginning of a sentence to link back to previous points.
- Requires a Head Noun: Unlike English, it cannot stand alone as a pronoun. You cannot say Nêu trên là đúng (The aforementioned is true); you must say Điều nêu trên là đúng (The aforementioned thing is true).
- Standalone Alternatives: To express the standalone idea of "the aforementioned", Vietnamese speakers commonly use Trên đây là... (Above is...) at the start of a sentence (e.g., Trên đây là toàn bộ nội dung... - The aforementioned is the entire content...) or những gì (what) combined with nêu trên (e.g., Tôi cam đoan những gì nêu trên là đúng sự thật - I guarantee that the aforementioned is true).
- Register: It is highly formal. Using it in casual conversation sounds unnatural.
Examples (4)
- Bài này không có mục đích bàn sâu về sự tranh luận giữa hai quan điểm nêu trên.
It is not the purpose of this article to delve into the debate between the two aforementioned viewpoints.
Word by Word: Article this not have purpose discuss deep about the debate between two viewpoint raised above.
Notice how 'nêu trên' directly follows the abstract noun phrase 'hai quan điểm' (two viewpoints).
- Các yêu cầu nêu trên là bắt buộc đối với mọi ứng viên.
The requirements stated above are mandatory for all candidates.
Word by Word: Plural requirement raised above are mandatory toward with every candidate.
A classic administrative sentence structure using the plural marker 'các'.
- Xin vui lòng tham khảo các chương nêu trên để biết thêm chi tiết.
Please refer to the aforementioned chapters for more details.
Word by Word: Beg please refer plural chapter raised above to know more detail.
Used in formal instructions to point the reader back to previously mentioned sections.
- Căn cứ vào những lý do nêu trên, tòa án quyết định bác bỏ đơn kiện.
Based on the aforementioned reasons, the court decided to dismiss the lawsuit.
Word by Word: Base into plural reason raised above, court decide dismiss application sue.
A typical legal context where 'nêu trên' modifies 'những lý do' (the reasons).
Common Mistakes
Placing 'nêu trên' before the noun like an English adjective.
Chúng tôi đã giải quyết nêu trên các vấn đề.Chúng tôi đã giải quyết các vấn đề nêu trên.Vietnamese uses head-initial noun phrases, meaning modifiers like 'nêu trên' must come after the noun they describe.
Using 'nêu trên' as a standalone subject without a head noun.
Nêu trên là hoàn toàn chính xác.Những điều nêu trên là hoàn toàn chính xác.'Nêu trên' is a modifier, not a noun. It must attach to a head noun like 'điều' (thing/point) or 'vấn đề' (issue).
Omitting 'Như' when trying to say 'As mentioned above'.
Đã nêu trên, chúng ta cần thêm thời gian.Như đã nêu trên, chúng ta cần thêm thời gian.To say 'As mentioned above' at the beginning of a clause, you must use the full phrase 'Như đã nêu trên'. Omitting 'Như' (As/Like) makes the sentence grammatically incomplete.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'nêu trên', a learner needs to be comfortable with basic spatial prepositions used metaphorically in text, the standard word order where modifiers follow the noun, and the formal register typical of documents where this phrase is found.
- trên / dưới / trong / ngoàiAbove / Below / Inside / Outside
The word 'trên' (above/on) is a core component of this pattern, used here metaphorically to refer to previous parts of a text.
Level 1 - Sino-Vietnamese And Native Words
The word 'nêu' (to state/mention) is often used in formal or administrative contexts, and understanding the distinction between formal and casual registers is helpful for this Level 6 pattern.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- Legal Register
Both belong to the highly formal legal and administrative register where precision and referencing are critical.
Level 6 - Administrative Register
Administrative texts frequently use 'nêu trên' to refer back to clauses, conditions, or requirements.
Level 6 - đãCompleted Action
The past tense marker 'đã' is frequently combined with 'nêu trên' to form 'đã nêu trên' (already mentioned above).
Level 1 - cácPlural Marker (All of a Known Set)
The plural marker 'các' is frequently paired with nouns modified by 'nêu trên' to refer to a specific set of previously mentioned items.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
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