Learn Hardcore Vietnamese: Tôi thích cà phê vì nó rất ngon. - I like coffee because it is very delicious.

Vietnamese does not use definite or indefinite articles like “the” or “a” in English. Nouns stand alone. If you want to specify “a cup of coffee,” you add a classifier: một ly cà phê.

What does vì mean, and how is it used here?

vì means “because.” It introduces the reason clause. In this sentence it links the main clause (Tôi thích cà phê) with the cause (nó rất ngon).

Can I use bởi vì instead of vì?

Yes. bởi vì and vì both mean “because,” but bởi vì is slightly more formal or emphatic. You could say: Tôi thích cà phê bởi vì nó rất ngon.

Why is the pronoun nó used to refer to coffee?

In Vietnamese, nó is a neutral third-person singular pronoun used for things or animals. Since cà phê (coffee) is inanimate, nó refers back to “coffee.”

Could we omit nó and just say Tôi thích cà phê vì rất ngon?

No, omitting nó makes the sentence ungrammatical. Vietnamese requires a subject in the reason clause. Here nó is that subject.

Why is rất placed before ngon?

rất means “very.” In Vietnamese, degree adverbs like rất always come immediately before the adjective they modify.

Can I swap the order and say Vì nó rất ngon, tôi thích cà phê?

Yes. Vietnamese allows the reason clause first, followed by a comma, then the main clause. It just sounds more formal or written.

What’s the difference between thích and yêu?

thích means “to like,” while yêu means “to love.” Saying Tôi yêu cà phê would be stronger—more emotional—than Tôi thích cà phê.

How do I pronounce Tôi thích cà phê vì nó rất ngon with correct tones?

Tôi (hoi tone, falling-rising)
thích (sắc tone, high rising)
cà phê (huyền tone on cà, sắc tone on phê)
vì (huyền tone)
nó (sắc tone)
rất (sắc tone)
ngon (ngang tone, flat)
Practice each syllable with its tone to get the natural rhythm.