Cà phê này ngon.

to be

Breakdown of Cà phê này ngon.

• cà phê: the coffee
• này: this
• ngon: delicious

Questions & Answers about Cà phê này ngon.

Why do we say Cà phê này ngon instead of adding a verb like "is"?

In Vietnamese, you often omit the equivalent of "to be" in short descriptive sentences. So you can simply say Cà phê này ngon ("This coffee delicious") to mean This coffee is delicious.

What does này mean and how is it placed in the sentence?

Này means this. It usually follows the noun or phrase it describes. Placing này after cà phê indicates you are talking about this specific coffee, rather than coffee in general.

How would I add emphasis if I really want to stress that the coffee is very good?

You can add rất (meaning very) before ngon. For example, Cà phê này rất ngon would mean This coffee is very delicious.

What’s the difference between saying Cà phê ngon and Cà phê này ngon?

Cà phê ngon just describes coffee in general as delicious. Cà phê này ngon points to a particular coffee you’re experiencing right now and says it's delicious.

Is the word order flexible in Vietnamese?

Typically, the noun comes first, followed by này, and then the adjective. Changing the order could make the sentence awkward or change the intended meaning. Usually, you’ll hear Cà phê này ngon as a natural, succinct way to say it.