sau khi
After (Doing)
Sau khi means "after" and is placed directly before a verb or a full clause to show that one action happens before another.
How It Works
Structure:
Sau khi + [Verb / Clause], [Main Clause]
Because Verbs Never Change Form in Vietnamese, you simply place sau khi before the base verb.
Tense and Aspect:
A common misconception is that sau khi requires a past tense marker like đã because the action has "already happened" relative to the main clause. In reality, sau khi simply establishes the sequence. The timeframe (past, present, or future) is understood from the context or the main clause.
Spoken vs. Written:
While sau khi is standard, neutral, and universally understood, native speakers in casual conversation often drop it. Instead, they use Verb + xong or rồi at the end of the first action to imply the sequence (e.g., Ăn xong, tôi đi dạo instead of Sau khi ăn, tôi đi dạo).
Examples (4)
- Sau khi ăn cơm, tôi đi dạo.
After eating, I go for a walk.
Word by Word: After when eat rice, I go stroll.
Notice how 'sau khi' is placed directly before the verb 'ăn' (to eat). No tense markers are needed.
- Sau khi tôi tốt nghiệp, tôi sẽ kiếm việc làm.
After I graduate, I will find a job.
Word by Word: After when I graduate, I will seek work do.
'Sau khi' can also introduce a full clause with a subject ('tôi'). The future marker 'sẽ' in the main clause sets the timeframe for the whole sentence.
- Sau khi nhận lương, tôi sẽ đi du lịch.
After receiving my salary, I will travel.
Word by Word: After when receive salary, I will go travel.
The sequence is clear without needing any past tense markers on the first verb.
- Sau khi thức dậy, anh ấy uống một cốc nước.
After waking up, he drinks a glass of water.
Word by Word: After when wake up, he drinks one glass water.
This pattern is perfectly natural for habitual, everyday actions.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sau' instead of 'sau khi' before a verb.
Sau học tiếng Việt, tôi đi ngủ.Sau khi học tiếng Việt, tôi đi ngủ.'Sau' (after) is a preposition used exclusively before nouns (like 'sau bữa tối' / after dinner). When followed by an action (verb), you must use 'sau khi'.
Using 'sau khi' before a simple noun.
Sau khi bữa tối, tôi xem phim.Sau bữa tối, tôi xem phim.'Sau khi' literally means 'after when' and requires a verb or clause. For simple nouns like 'dinner' (bữa tối), just use 'sau'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'sau khi' (after), you first need to understand the word 'khi' (when/time) and how Vietnamese uses spatial words like 'sau' (behind/after) to indicate temporal relationships. Basic word order is also essential for structuring the two clauses involved.
- khiWhen
The word 'khi' (when/time) is the core component of this temporal conjunction, providing the base meaning of a point in time.
Level 2 - trên / dưới / trong / ngoàiAbove / Below / Inside / Outside
Understanding spatial prepositions like 'sau' (behind/after) is necessary to understand how 'sau khi' functions as 'after the time'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- trước khiBefore (Doing)
The direct opposite of 'sau khi', used to say 'before' doing an action.
Level 2 - sau đóAfter That
While 'sau khi' makes a clause dependent, 'sau đó' (after that) is an adverbial phrase used to start a brand new sentence or main clause.
Level 2 - Verb + xongFinish Doing It
In casual spoken Vietnamese, native speakers often replace 'sau khi' with 'xong' placed at the end of the verb phrase to show sequence.
Level 3 - Aspect Rather Than Tense
'Sau khi' establishes the sequence of events without needing tense markers, highlighting how Vietnamese focuses on aspect and relative time.
Foundations
Words in This Pattern
Practice sau khi in Bubblegum
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