rất / lắm / quá

Choosing a Degree Word

Level 2

Vietnamese has three main words for 'very' or 'too': rất, lắm, and quá. They differ in where they sit in the sentence and the feeling they convey.

How It Works

While English translates these words similarly, Vietnamese distinguishes them by syntax and pragmatics:

  • Rất (Neutral / Objective): Placed before the adjective (rất + Adj). It simply states a fact and is the default choice for formal writing and polite speech. In spoken Vietnamese, people frequently insert là for emphasis (rất là + Adj, e.g., rất là đẹp). Note that you cannot say không rất to mean "not very". However, you can place không after it (rất không + Adj/Verb) to mean "really do not" or "very un-" (e.g., rất không thích = really do not like).
  • Lắm (Conversational / Enthusiastic): Placed after the adjective (Adj + lắm). It expresses personal assessment or enthusiasm and is heavily preferred in everyday spoken conversation. To say "not very...", you must use the pattern không + Adj + lắm.
  • Quá (Excessive or Exclamatory):
    - Adj + quá: The standard everyday way to say So...! (exclamatory) OR Too... (excessive, e.g., đắt quá = too expensive). Context tells you which one it is. When used as an exclamation, native speakers frequently attach the particle đi or đi mất to the end (e.g., Đẹp quá đi! or Nóng quá đi mất!).
    - Quá + Adj: Frequently used as a highly emphatic Extremely / Absolutely / So (e.g., quá đẹp = absolutely beautiful, quá ngon = so delicious). It can also mean Too... (excessive) depending on the context.
    - To say "not too...", you can use either không + Adj + quá or không quá + Adj (e.g., không đắt quá / không quá đắt).

Important Rules:
1. These words attach to adjectives and psychological/emotion verbs (like thích or sợ). They cannot directly modify action verbs. You cannot say 'rất chạy' (very run); you must say 'chạy rất nhanh' (run very fast).
2. Do not stack them. Unlike English where you might say 'so very', you cannot combine these words in Vietnamese (e.g., never say 'rất đẹp lắm' or 'rất tốt quá'). Choose only one.

Examples (6)

  1. Phở này rất ngon.

    This pho is very delicious.

    Word by Word: Pho this very delicious.

    Using 'rất' before the adjective provides an objective, neutral statement of fact.

  2. Phở này ngon lắm!

    This pho is really delicious!

    Word by Word: Pho this delicious very!

    Using 'lắm' after the adjective makes the statement more conversational and enthusiastic.

  3. Phở này ngon quá!

    This pho is so delicious!

    Word by Word: Pho this delicious so!

    Placing 'quá' after the adjective here acts as an exclamation of strong praise or surprise.

  4. Cái áo này đắt quá.

    This shirt is too expensive.

    Word by Word: Object shirt this expensive too.

    In everyday speech, placing 'quá' after the adjective is also the standard way to say 'too' (excessive).

  5. Bộ phim này không hay lắm.

    This movie is not very good.

    Word by Word: Set film this not interesting very.

    The pattern 'không + adjective + lắm' is extremely common for saying something is 'not very...'.

  6. Tôi rất thích cuốn sách này.

    I really like this book.

    Word by Word: I very like roll book this.

    Degree words can also modify emotion or psychological verbs like 'thích' (to like).

Common Mistakes

  • Applying English word order to 'lắm' and exclamatory 'quá'.

    Bộ phim này lắm hay.
    Bộ phim này hay lắm.

    Because English puts 'very' and 'so' before the adjective, learners often put 'lắm' and exclamatory 'quá' before the adjective too. In Vietnamese, they must follow the adjective.

  • Using degree words directly with action verbs.

    Anh ấy rất chạy.
    Anh ấy chạy rất nhanh.

    Degree words cannot directly modify action verbs. You must use an adjective (acting as an adverb of manner) like 'nhanh' (fast) and modify that instead.

How It Connects

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rất / lắm / quáLevel 2Choosing a Degree Word

Learn This First

To learn degree words, you first need to be comfortable with how adjectives are used in Vietnamese sentences. Since 'rất' precedes the adjective while 'lắm' follows it, knowing the basic 'Noun + Adjective' structure is vital. Additionally, understanding that adjectives act as predicates (without needing 'to be') allows you to correctly place these intensifiers.

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lắm