Learn Hardcore Vietnamese: Bạn đang học tiếng Việt à?

In Vietnamese, đang indicates an ongoing action in the present tense, similar to the English -ing form. By saying Bạn đang học tiếng Việt à?, it emphasizes that the studying is happening right now.

What does à mean at the end of the sentence?

The word à is a final particle that can serve a few functions, but here it primarily turns the statement into a question. It’s used in casual speech to seek confirmation or ask gently for information.

Can I say Bạn học tiếng Việt à? without đang?

Yes, you can. It would still be a question meaning Are you studying Vietnamese? However, without đang, it doesn’t emphasize the immediate action. It could also be interpreted more generally as Do you study Vietnamese?

Why do some people write Tiếng Việt with capital letters?

In many style guides, the names of languages are written with capital letters, just like English or French in English texts. In Vietnamese, it’s correct to capitalize Tiếng Việt. However, convention can vary, so you might see it with or without capitalization in more casual writings.

How would I respond if I’m studying Vietnamese?

A natural reply could be Vâng, tôi đang học tiếng Việt (Yes, I’m currently studying Vietnamese). You could also use instead of for politeness, and you could skip if you just want to say, .