chuyện + Clause
Framing a Whole Affair
chuyện + [Subject + Predicate] / [Verb Phrase] / [Noun]
Translates to "the matter of", "the story of", or "[Noun] issues".
How It Works
When you attach chuyện to the front of a clause, a bare verb phrase (such as chuyện học hành or chuyện làm ăn), or a bare noun (such as chuyện tiền bạc or chuyện gia đình), the words inside remain exactly as they would be independently. As is the general rule for the isolating Vietnamese language, there are absolutely no morphological changes.
Nuance and Register:
While basic dictionaries define chuyện as "story" or "tale," as a grammatical tool, it is constantly used to frame real-life situations or general topics. It implies the situation is a narrative, an issue of personal concern, or something people are gossiping about or reacting to emotionally. It is the default choice for daily speech and informal writing. In informal spoken Vietnamese, you will frequently hear the classifier cái attached to the front (cái chuyện + Clause/Noun) for added emphasis.
Because chuyện turns a situation into a noun, it frequently pairs with demonstratives (like chuyện này, chuyện đó) or question words (like chuyện gì).
Compared to other nominalizers:
- việc treats the event as an objective action, task, or fact.
- điều is used for an abstract "thing" someone is thinking about, feeling, or mentioning.
- sự attaches to verbs, adjectives, or verb phrases to create abstract nouns, but it cannot frame a full clause with a subject.
For example, việc anh ấy nghỉ việc treats a resignation as an objective fact, whereas chuyện anh ấy nghỉ việc treats it as workplace drama or a social matter.
Examples (5)
- Chuyện anh ấy nghỉ việc, tôi không hay biết gì cả.
The matter of him quitting his job, I didn't know anything about it at all.
Word by Word: Matter he quit job, I not know anything at all.
Here, the nominalized clause is fronted as the topic of the sentence. It frames his resignation as a piece of news or gossip.
- Mẹ tôi rất lo lắng về chuyện tôi chưa có người yêu.
My mom is very worried about the business of me not having a partner yet.
Word by Word: Mother I very worried about matter I not yet have lover.
The entire clause 'tôi chưa có người yêu' becomes the object of the preposition 'về' (about), framed as an issue of personal concern.
- Chuyện chúng ta chia tay đã xảy ra lâu rồi.
The affair of us breaking up happened a long time ago.
Word by Word: Matter we break up already happen long already.
The nominalized clause acts as the subject of the main verb 'xảy ra' (happened).
- Chuyện cô ấy trúng số làm cả xóm xôn xao.
The story of her winning the lottery made the whole neighborhood buzz.
Word by Word: Story she win lottery make whole neighborhood buzz.
Demonstrates how 'chuyện' perfectly captures the nuance of a situation being a topic of conversation or public reaction.
- Chúng tôi không bao giờ cãi nhau về chuyện tiền bạc.
We never argue about money matters.
Word by Word: We not ever argue together about matter money.
Here, 'chuyện' attaches directly to the noun 'tiền bạc' (money) to frame it as a general issue or topic of concern.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sự' to nominalize a full clause.
Sự anh ấy nghỉ việc làm tôi bất ngờ.Chuyện anh ấy nghỉ việc làm tôi bất ngờ.Learners often learn that 'sự' is the Vietnamese equivalent to the English suffix '-tion'. However, sự attaches to verbs, adjectives, or verb phrases (e.g., sự phát triển của nền kinh tế = the development of the economy), but it cannot frame a full clause with a subject. To package a full clause with a subject and a predicate, you must use 'chuyện' or 'việc'.
Directly translating the English noun clause starter 'That...' at the beginning of a sentence.
Rằng anh ấy đến trễ là một vấn đề.Chuyện anh ấy đến trễ là một vấn đề.English speakers often try to use 'Rằng' or 'Là' at the beginning of a sentence to replicate 'That [he was late] is a problem.' This is ungrammatical in Vietnamese. You must anchor the clause with a nominalizer like 'Chuyện' or 'Việc'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'chuyện + Clause', a learner needs to be comfortable with Vietnamese noun phrase structure, specifically how a noun can be modified by a following clause without a linker. It is also helpful to have already encountered 'việc + Clause', which is the standard way to turn a verb phrase into a noun, as 'chuyện' follows the same logic but specifically for 'affairs', 'matters', or 'stories'.
- việc + ClauseTurning a Clause into a Noun
The pattern 'việc + Clause' is the most direct functional parallel to 'chuyện + Clause', as both use a noun to nominalize an entire clause. Understanding 'việc' (for actions/tasks) provides the conceptual foundation for using 'chuyện' (for affairs/stories).
Level 4 - Relative Clause Without A Linker
The 'chuyện + Clause' structure relies on the ability to attach a clause directly to a noun to describe it, which is the core mechanic of Vietnamese relative clauses.
Level 3 - Naming A Specific One
Understanding how nouns function as heads of phrases is essential, as 'chuyện' acts as a noun head that is being modified by the following clause.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- điều + ClauseThe Point That
'Điều' also nominalizes clauses, but it is used for an abstract 'thing' someone is thinking about, feeling, or mentioning, rather than unfolding events or social matters.
Level 5 - sự + VerbTurning a Verb into a Noun
'Sự' is another nominalizer, but it attaches to verbs, adjectives, or verb phrases to create abstract nouns without a subject, whereas 'chuyện' can wrap around entire clauses with a subject.
Level 4 - Nominalising Classifiers
'Chuyện' belongs to the broader category of nominalizing classifiers, which are essential tools in Vietnamese for turning actions and situations into nouns.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice chuyện + Clause in Bubblegum
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