đi

The verb đi is one of the most foundational and frequently used words in Vietnamese. When you want to talk about going somewhere or doing an activity, just place the noun or verb right after it:

• Subject + đi + Destination (Noun)
• Subject + đi + Action (Verb)

Because Vietnamese has no verb conjugation, đi never changes its form regardless of who is going or when they go.

Key Uses and Nuances:

• No 'to' needed: Beginners often try to translate the English word 'to' by adding the verb đến (to arrive). While this creates a valid serial verb construction (đi đến), native speakers usually drop 'đến' entirely for routine destinations.
• Focus on the activity: You can place an action directly after đi to mean 'go do something' (e.g., đi làm for 'go to work', đi ăn for 'go eat'). Even with nouns like đi chợ (go to the market), it implies you are going there to shop, focusing on the purpose of the trip.
• Showing time: To indicate when the action happens, you can place markers before the verb, such as đã (past), đang (in progress), or sẽ (future). However, remember that aspect markers are optional and frequently dropped when time words are used or the context is clear.
• Means of transportation: You can express how you travel by placing a vehicle directly after the verb (e.g., đi xe máy for 'go by motorbike').
• To leave or walk: When used without a destination, đi can mean 'to leave' (e.g., Tôi phải đi đây - I have to leave now). It also refers to the physical act of walking (e.g., Em bé biết đi - The baby knows how to walk).
• Wearing footwear: Interestingly, in Northern Vietnamese, đi is also the verb used for putting on or wearing footwear (e.g., đi giày for 'to wear shoes', đi tất for 'to wear socks'). Note that Southern Vietnamese speakers typically use the verb mang instead (e.g., mang giày, mang vớ).
• Moving away or removal: As a directional particle placed after another verb, đi indicates moving away or removing something, as seen in the Verb + đi pattern (e.g., lấy đi for 'to take away', bỏ đi for 'to throw away' or 'to leave').
• Change of state: When placed after an adjective, đi indicates a decrease, reduction, or negative change in state (e.g., gầy đi for 'to get thinner', xấu đi for 'to get worse/uglier', nhỏ đi for 'to get smaller').
• Imperative particle: When placed at the end of a sentence, đi acts as a particle to encourage someone to do something, like đi (go ahead and do it). For example: Ăn đi! (Eat!), Nói đi! (Speak/Tell me!), or Chúng ta về đi! (Let's go home!).