Verb + về

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Level 3

Về means "to return" or "go back." When placed after another verb, it shows that the action is directed back to a "base of operations" (like your house, hotel, or office), or it can act as a preposition meaning "about."

How It Works

1. Returning to a Base:
Place về after a verb of motion to indicate returning to a "base of operations." This includes your home or hometown, but also temporary bases like a hotel, office, or school.

  • đi về = to go back
  • trở về = to return (slightly more formal or emphatic than đi về)
  • bay về = to fly back
  • đi về quê = to go back to one's hometown
  • bay về nước = to fly back to one's home country

2. Directional Complement for Objects:
Về also acts as a directional particle for objects being sent or brought towards the subject's base or the speaker's base, even if they aren't physically moving themselves.

  • mang về / đem về = to bring back (e.g., takeout food)
  • gửi về = to send back
  • mua về = to buy and bring home

3. Returning from an Activity:
You will often see về placed after an activity phrase to indicate returning home after completing it.

  • đi làm về = to come home from work
  • đi học về = to come home from school

4. Geographical Direction:
Về is used geographically in specific contexts, primarily when returning to one's native roots or countryside (về quê), or specifically when traveling to the Mekong Delta.

  • về quê = to return to one's hometown/countryside
  • chạy về miền Tây = to drive to the Mekong Delta

5. Meaning "About" or "Regarding":
Về acts as a preposition meaning "about" or "regarding". It is often paired with verbs of thought or communication, but it can also stand alone at the beginning of a sentence as a topic marker meaning "As for...".

  • nói về = to talk about
  • nghĩ về = to think about
  • Về phần tôi... = As for me...
  • Về vấn đề này... = Regarding this issue...

6. Standalone usage:
Because về is a full verb, it doesn't always need another verb in front of it. You can simply say "Tôi về" (I am heading back). In daily conversation, it is highly common to announce your departure using phrases like Tôi về đây (I'm heading home now) or Mình về nhé (I'm leaving now).

7. Physical Direction:
Về can indicate physical direction towards a place or point.

  • đi về phía trước = to go forward
  • nhìn về phía nam = to look towards the south

8. Belonging to:
When paired with thuộc, it indicates possession or belonging.

  • thuộc về = to belong to

9. Resultative Complement of Acquisition:
Về is used abstractly to indicate taking something into one's possession, ownership, or control, even if no physical travel is involved.

  • thu hồi về = to recall / revoke
  • lấy vợ về = to take a wife

10. Pronunciation note:
In Southern Vietnamese, the "v" consonant is often pronounced as a "y" /j/ sound, making về sound like "yề".

11. Time Expressions:
Về can be used with times of day to mean "towards" or "at" that time.

  • về đêm = at night / towards nightfall
  • về chiều = in the late afternoon / towards evening

12. "In terms of":
When combined with mặt (face/aspect), về means "in terms of" or "regarding an aspect".

  • về mặt kỹ thuật = in terms of technique / technically
  • về mặt lý thuyết = in terms of theory / theoretically

Examples (4)

  1. Cô ấy đem về nhiều quà.

    She brought back many gifts.

    Word by Word: She bring back many gift.

    "Đem về" shows the action of bringing items back to her home base.

  2. Cho tôi một ly cà phê mang về.

    Give me a coffee to go.

    Word by Word: Give me one glass coffee bring back.

    A very common phrase for ordering takeout. Literally "coffee to bring back (home)".

  3. Tết năm nay anh có bay về Việt Nam không?

    Are you flying back to Vietnam this Tet?

    Word by Word: Tet year this older_brother have fly back Vietnam no?

    "Bay về" is used because Vietnam is the person's home country.

  4. Sau mười năm, anh ấy đã trở về quê hương.

    After ten years, he has returned to his hometown.

    Word by Word: After ten year, he already return hometown.

    The verb "trở về" is a slightly more formal or emphatic way to say "return" or "go back" to a base.

Common Mistakes

  • Translating "go home" literally as "đi nhà".

    Tôi đi nhà.
    Tôi về nhà.

    Native speakers never say "đi nhà". đi indicates movement away from a starting point. To express going home, always use về (or về nhà).

  • Using "về" to return to a temporary location that isn't a base.

    Tôi để quên điện thoại ở quán cà phê, tôi phải đi về đó.
    Tôi để quên điện thoại ở quán cà phê, tôi phải quay lại đó.

    Về is for returning to a "base of operations" (like your home, office, school, or even a hotel you are staying at). If you are returning to a place you just visited temporarily that is not a base (like a cafe or supermarket), use quay lại (to turn back / return).

How It Connects

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Verb + vềLevel 3Back to Base

Learn This First

To understand 'Verb + về', learners first need to be familiar with the basic verb 'đi' (to go) and the general logic of serial verb constructions in Vietnamese, where multiple verbs are strung together to refine the meaning of an action. Additionally, knowing how direction and location are ordered in a sentence helps in using 'về' with specific destinations.

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