mỗi khi

Every Time

Level 3

Mỗi khi means every time or whenever. It connects two events that always happen together as a habit or predictable reaction.

How It Works

Mỗi khi is a highly frequent conjunction used to describe habitual, recurring, or predictable events. It emphasizes that whenever a specific condition occurs, a specific result follows. In everyday Vietnamese, it is often used interchangeably with mỗi lần (each time), but they have a fundamental mechanical difference: khi refers to a condition or time ('whenever'), while lần refers to countable instances ('each time'). Because mỗi lần is a noun phrase, it can be used to count, measure, or distribute (e.g., Uống thuốc này mỗi lần hai viên - Take two pills each time), whereas mỗi khi cannot.

When used with verbs like nhớ (to miss/remember) or quên (to forget), mỗi khi acts as an adverbial time clause meaning 'whenever [X happens]'. For example, Tôi nhớ mỗi khi em cười means 'I remember/miss [you/it] whenever you smile'. To say 'I miss the times you smiled' or 'I forgot the specific instances', you must use a noun phrase like những khi or những lần.

How to use it:

  • Attach it directly to a full clause or a verb phrase: mỗi khi trời mưa (every time it rains) or mỗi khi buồn (whenever [I am] sad). Because Vietnamese adjectives function as stative verbs, attaching mỗi khi directly to an adjective like buồn, rảnh, or mệt is perfectly grammatical.
  • Subject Omission: Notice the example mỗi khi buồn. If the subject of the mỗi khi clause is the same as the main clause, Vietnamese speakers almost always drop the subject in the dependent clause.
  • Requires a verb (usually): Formally, mỗi khi requires a verb or clause and does not attach directly to nouns. For example, you would supply a verb like mỗi khi Tết đến (whenever Tet arrives) or use a noun phrase like mỗi dịp Tết. However, in casual spoken Vietnamese, native speakers frequently use shorthand ellipses, resulting in phrases like mỗi khi Tết or mỗi khi sinh nhật where the verbs are implied.
  • Do not use future markers inside the mỗi khi clause, even if the event has not happened yet.
  • Using thì: When a mỗi khi clause is placed at the beginning of a sentence, native speakers frequently start the main clause with thì (e.g., Mỗi khi trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà - Every time it rains, I stay home).
  • The core correlative pattern: The main clause frequently utilizes the adverbs đều (always/all) or lại (again) to emphasize the recurring nature of the action, forming the core correlative pattern Mỗi khi... thì đều/lại... (e.g., Mỗi khi trời mưa thì tôi đều ở nhà - Every time it rains, I always stay home).

Natural Pairings:
Native speakers frequently pair mỗi khi with habitual adverbs in the main clause, such as thường (usually), luôn (always), đều (always), or lại (again/then). While omitting them is grammatically okay, including them makes your Vietnamese sound much more natural.

Nuance - 'mỗi khi' vs 'bất cứ khi nào':
English speakers often wonder about the difference between mỗi khi and bất cứ khi nào, as both can translate to 'whenever'. Mỗi khi is used for actual recurring or habitual events that happen (e.g., Mỗi khi trời mưa, tôi ở nhà - Whenever it rains, I stay home). In contrast, bất cứ khi nào is used for open conditions, offers, or future possibilities (e.g., Hãy gọi cho tôi bất cứ khi nào bạn cần - Call me whenever you need help).

Examples (4)

  1. Mỗi khi buồn, tôi thường nghe nhạc.

    Whenever I am sad, I usually listen to music.

    Word by Word: Every time sad, I usually listen music.

    Notice how the subject is dropped in the first clause, and the main clause uses 'thường' to emphasize the habit.

  2. Mỗi khi trời mưa, cô ấy lại ở nhà.

    Every time it rains, she stays at home.

    Word by Word: Every time sky rains, she again stays at home.

    The word 'lại' is often used in the main clause to show a predictable, repeated reaction to the condition.

  3. Tôi luôn gọi cho mẹ mỗi khi có thời gian rảnh.

    I always call my mom whenever I have free time.

    Word by Word: I always call for mother every time have time free.

    Mỗi khi can also be placed in the middle of the sentence to connect the two clauses.

  4. Mỗi khi về quê, chúng tôi đều đi thăm ông bà.

    Every time we return to our hometown, we always go visit our grandparents.

    Word by Word: Every time return hometown, we equally go visit grandfather grandmother.

    The adverb 'đều' (equally/always) is another common word paired with mỗi khi to show consistency.

Common Mistakes

  • Using future tense markers inside the time clause.

    Mỗi khi tôi sẽ rảnh, tôi đi chơi.
    Mỗi khi rảnh, tôi thường đi chơi.

    The verb following mỗi khi should remain unmarked for tense. Do not use 'sẽ' inside the time clause.

  • Using 'mỗi khi' to count or measure instances.

    Uống thuốc này mỗi khi hai viên.
    Uống thuốc này mỗi lần hai viên.

    Because 'mỗi khi' refers to a condition or time ('whenever'), it cannot be used to count, measure, or distribute. To say 'each time' in a counting context, you must use the noun phrase 'mỗi lần'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mỗi khiLevel 3Every Time

Learn This First

To understand 'mỗi khi' (every time/whenever), you need to know the individual meanings of 'mỗi' (every) and 'khi' (when/time). Combining them creates a habitual time clause. You should also be comfortable with basic Vietnamese word order to structure the full sentence correctly.

Words in This Pattern