như

Like / as

Level 2

The word như means 'like' or 'as'. It is used to compare how things look, feel, or act in a qualitative way.

How It Works

The comparative marker như is a high-frequency word used across all registers of Vietnamese, meaning 'like' or 'as'.

You can use it in several core structures:

  • With Adjectives: [Adjective] + như + [Noun]
    Example: đẹp như tiên (beautiful as a fairy). Note: For literal, objective equality between two distinct items (e.g., 'as tall as him'), use bằng. In this specific structure, như with adjectives is primarily reserved for similes and figurative language.
  • With Verbs: [Verb] + như + [Noun]
    Example: hát như ca sĩ (sings like a singer) or làm việc như một cái máy (working like a machine).
  • Negative Comparisons: không như + [Noun / Pronoun / Clause], không + [Verb] + như + [Noun / Clause], or không + [Adjective] + như + [Noun / Clause]
    Example: không như tôi nghĩ (not like I thought) or không tốt như tôi nghĩ (not as good as I thought). Note: While không bằng is used for objective A-vs-B degree comparisons (e.g., không cao bằng - not as tall as), không như is often used with adjectives to compare against expectations or abstract concepts.
  • Reciprocal Equality: như nhau (like each other / the same). This can follow an adjective to express literal equality between subjects (e.g., cao như nhau - as tall as each other).
  • With Demonstratives and Question Words: như thế / như vậy / như này / như vầy (like this / like that) and như thế nào (how / what is it like)

Common Fixed Phrases:

  • Như là: Like / Such as
  • Cứ như là / Như thể: As if
  • Hình như / Dường như / Có vẻ như: It seems like
  • Cũng như: As well as
  • Coi như / Xem như: To consider as
  • Như thường / Như mọi khi: As usual
  • Hầu như / Gần như: Almost / Nearly
  • Giá như / Nếu như: If only / If
  • Theo như / Như: As / According to
  • Như sau: As follows

Important Notes:
1. Emphasis: To emphasize exact resemblance, như is frequently paired with other words, forming giống như or y như (exactly like).

2. Listing: như can be used on its own to introduce a list, meaning 'such as' or 'like' (e.g., các loại trái cây như táo, chuối...). It is also commonly paired as ví dụ như.

3. Not a verb of affection: như does not mean 'to like' in the sense of affection. To say you like something, you must use the verb thích.

Examples (6)

  1. Cô ấy đẹp như tiên.

    She is as beautiful as a fairy.

    Word by Word: Aunt that beautiful like fairy.

    A classic figurative comparison using an adjective + như + noun.

  2. Anh ấy làm việc như một cái máy.

    He works like a machine.

    Word by Word: Older brother that do work like one classifier machine.

    A simile comparing an action to a noun. Note that như means 'like' here, not 'as a professional role'.

  3. Chuyện này không như tôi nghĩ.

    This matter is not like I thought.

    Word by Word: Story this not like I think.

    A negative comparison using không như. While không bằng is used for direct A-vs-B degree comparisons, không như is perfect for comparing against expectations or abstract concepts.

  4. Hai chiếc xe này nhanh như nhau.

    These two cars are as fast as each other.

    Word by Word: Two classifier vehicle this fast like together.

    Using như nhau to express reciprocal equality.

  5. Tại sao bạn lại làm như thế?

    Why did you do it like that?

    Word by Word: Why friend again do like that?

    Combining như với a demonstrative (thế or vậy) to mean 'like that' or 'like this'.

  6. Hình như trời sắp mưa.

    It seems like it is about to rain.

    Word by Word: Shape like sky about to rain.

    Hình như is a highly frequent fixed phrase meaning 'it seems like'. Notice the use of sắp for an impending action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'như' as the verb 'to like' (affection).

    Tôi như bạn.
    Tôi thích bạn.

    Như only means 'like' in the sense of resemblance or comparison. To express affection or preference, you must use the active verb thích.

  • Using 'như' to express a professional role (translating English 'as').

    Tôi làm việc như một giáo viên.
    Tôi làm giáo viên.

    In English, 'as' can mean both resemblance ('like') and role ('in the capacity of'). In Vietnamese, như strictly means 'like' (resemblance or manner). To express a professional role, simply use the verb làm (to do/make) directly with the profession, or use the phrase 'với tư cách là'.

How It Connects

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nhưLevel 2Like / as

Learn This First

To understand 'như' (like/as), you need a solid grasp of basic Vietnamese word order and how adjectives modify nouns. It is also helpful to have encountered the comparative frame ('hơn') to understand how Vietnamese structures comparisons between two entities.

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