cho

Here are the main ways to use cho in everyday Vietnamese:

1. As a Main Verb (To Give)
Use it when giving something to someone of equal or lower age/status.
Structure: [Subject] + cho + [Recipient] + [Object]

2. As a Preposition (For / To)
It marks the beneficiary of an action. While verbs of transfer (like đưa, gửi) can sometimes drop it, verbs like mua (buy) or làm (do) strictly require it.
Structure: [Verb] + (Object) + cho + [Person] or [Verb] + cho + [Person] + [Object]

3. As a Causative (To Let / Make)
It means granting permission, or causing something to happen. A highly common fixed phrase is cho [ai] biết (to let someone know).
Structure (To Let): cho + [Person] + [Verb]
Structure (To Make): làm (cho) (or khiến (cho)) + [Person/Thing] + [Adjective/Verb]. Note that 'cho' can often be dropped in spoken Vietnamese (e.g., làm tôi buồn).

4. Standard Requests
Starting a sentence with "Cho..." literally means "Give..." and is the standard way to order food. However, using "Cho tôi..." sounds stiff and distant in service situations. True politeness comes from using correct kinship pronouns (e.g., "Cho em..." or "Cho anh..."). For even more polite requests, add the word xin (e.g., "Cho em xin..." or "Cho mình xin..."), which translates to "May I please have...". You can also add particles like nhé or với.

5. Purpose (So that)
Used to indicate the desired result of an action. It is frequently paired with để as để cho (so that / in order to let).
Structure: [Action] + cho / để cho + [Adjective/Result]

6. To Put Into / Add
Used when adding an ingredient or putting an object somewhere.
Structure: cho + [Object] + vào + [Place]

7. To Think / Assume
Used as a verb of cognition meaning "to think that" or "to believe that". The passive form được cho là means "is considered to be" or "is said to be".
Structure: cho là / cho rằng + [Clause]

8. Threatening / Emphasizing Extremes
Placed at the end of a sentence or after a verb of harm/punishment to emphasize an undesirable result or a threat. It is also used as a general emphatic particle for extremes, often paired with lắm or vào (e.g., Đẹp cho lắm vào or Khổ cho tôi).
Structure: [Verb of harm] + cho or [Adjective/Verb] + cho + lắm / vào

9. Until / Up To
Used to mark the endpoint of time or distance.
Structure: cho đến / cho tới + [Time/Place]

10. Therefore / So
Used as a conjunction to indicate a result or conclusion.
Structure: [Cause], cho nên + [Result]

11. Softener / Favor Particle
Placed at the end of a sentence, it softens a statement or indicates that an action is being done as a favor for someone else.
Structure: [Verb] + cho

12. Benefactive Imperative
Used to ask someone to do something for you.
Structure: [Verb] + cho + tôi

13. Resignation / Settling
Used with 'rồi' to express settling for an option out of resignation.
Structure: [Action] + cho rồi

14. Emphasizing Imperatives / Extent
Used to emphasize the extent or intensity of an action, often in commands.
Structure: [Verb] + cho + [Adjective] + (vào)

15. Concession (Despite / Even if)
Used in concessive phrases to mean 'despite' or 'even if'.
Structure: mặc cho / dù cho / cho dù

16. Reversing Verbs
Adding cho before certain verbs reverses their direction, changing them from taking to giving. For example, mượn (to borrow) becomes cho mượn (to lend), and thuê (to rent) becomes cho thuê (to rent out).