những gì

In English, the word 'what' is used for both embedded questions (e.g., 'I know what you did') and relative clauses meaning 'the things that' (e.g., 'I believe what you said'). In Vietnamese, a general or singular embedded question often uses the question word gì (e.g., Tôi biết bạn đã làm gì). However, when 'what' refers to a plural or encompassing set of things—whether in an embedded question (e.g., Tôi biết những gì bạn đã làm) or a relative clause meaning 'the things that'—you use những gì. For singular concepts, you might use phrases like cái mà (for physical or abstract things, e.g., cái mà tôi muốn nói) or điều mà (for abstract facts or ideas).

Key Rules:

• As a relative pronoun (meaning 'the things that'): Những gì introduces a clause describing the things in question (e.g., những gì anh nói = what you said / the things you said).
• As 'whatever' or 'everything that': In affirmative statements, những gì can translate to 'whatever' or 'everything that' (e.g., Tôi sẽ làm những gì bạn muốn = I will do whatever you want). Note that the literal translation for 'anything' is bất cứ cái gì.
• As a subject: Những gì can function not only as an object but also as the subject of a sentence (e.g., Những gì đang xảy ra rất đáng sợ = What is happening is very scary).
• As a plural question word: When asking 'what things?', it acts as a direct question word expecting a list of multiple items. Following the Question Words Stay In Place pattern, it stays in the object position (usually at the end of the sentence), unlike English where 'what' moves to the front (e.g., Bạn đã mua những gì? = What [things] did you buy?). You can also place a noun between những and gì to ask 'what [nouns]?' (e.g., Bạn đã mua những cuốn sách gì? = What books did you buy?). For specific, physical, countable objects, you can also use the variation những cái gì.
• Negative contexts: Do not use những gì to mean 'nothing' or 'not anything' in negative sentences. For 'nothing', use patterns like Nothing At All. However, it is perfectly fine to use những gì in a negative sentence when it still means 'the things that' (e.g., Tôi không tin những gì anh ấy nói = I don't believe what he said).
• Optional 'mà': When used as a relative pronoun, you will frequently hear mà added after it to link the clause (e.g., những gì mà anh nói), similar to the Relative Clause With mà pattern.
• Emphasis: You will often see tất cả placed before it (tất cả những gì) to emphasize 'absolutely everything that...'
• Non-human restriction: Những gì is strictly used for inanimate objects, abstract concepts, or events. When referring to people (meaning 'whoever' or 'the people who'), you must use những ai or những người (mà) instead.
• Common verb pairings: It is frequently paired with verbs of cognition, perception, and communication, such as hiểu (to understand), nghe (to hear), tin (to believe), nhớ (to remember), and nói (to say).

Comparisons & Alternatives:

• Những gì vs. Cái gì / Điều gì: While these can all function as question words, cái gì asks 'what?' generally or for physical things, and điều gì asks 'what?' for abstract events or concepts (e.g., Điều gì đang xảy ra? = What is happening?). In contrast, những gì specifically asks for a plural list ('what things?'). Note that những can also combine directly with cái gì and điều gì to form những cái gì (what physical things?) and những điều gì (what abstract things/matters?), with những gì acting as the general, encompassing plural for both. As relative pronouns, use cái mà (physical) or điều mà (abstract) for singular. For plural, you can use những gì, or pluralize the singular terms into những cái mà (for physical things) and những điều mà (for abstract things).
• Những gì vs. Những thứ (mà): Những thứ (mà) is frequently used interchangeably with những gì. While những thứ often translates to 'the stuff that' and is common for physical objects, it is also widely used for abstract concepts (e.g., những thứ tình cảm). Những gì tends to sound slightly more formal or encompassing.
• Những gì vs. Mọi thứ: Mọi thứ means 'everything' as a standalone pronoun. Những gì needs a following clause when used in a statement.
• Những gì vs. Những điều: Những điều is restricted to abstract concepts (advice, facts, principles), whereas những gì can be abstract, physical, or situational.