Questions & Answers about Cà phê này khá ngon.
What does này mean in this sentence and why is it placed after cà phê?
này is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “this.” In Vietnamese, demonstratives like này (this) and đó (that) typically follow the noun they modify. So cà phê này literally means “coffee this,” i.e. “this coffee.”
Why is there no word for “is” (like là) in Cà phê này khá ngon?
Vietnamese often omits a copula when an adjective follows the subject. Adjectives can function directly as predicates. Inserting là would be grammatically possible but redundant and less natural in casual speech. You could say Cà phê này khá là ngon, but most speakers simply drop là: Cà phê này khá ngon.
What part of speech is khá, and what nuance does it add to ngon?
khá is an adverb meaning “quite,” “rather,” or “fairly.” It modifies the adjective ngon (“delicious”), softening the praise to indicate the coffee is above average in taste but not necessarily “extremely” delicious.
Why does khá come before ngon instead of after?
In Vietnamese, adverbs of degree (like khá, rất, hơi) precede the adjective they modify. So the order is always: subject + (adverb) + adjective. Placing khá after ngon would be ungrammatical.
Is ngon an adjective or a verb? How does it function here?
ngon is an adjective describing taste (“delicious”). In Vietnamese, adjectives are used directly as predicates without a linking verb. So ngon here functions like the English phrase “to be delicious” but without needing a separate verb.
Do I need a classifier when talking about cà phê?
Not always. When you’re speaking about coffee in general (as a substance) or pointing out “this coffee” collectively, cà phê này is fine. If you want to specify “this cup of coffee,” you’d add a classifier:
- Cốc cà phê này khá ngon. (“This cup of coffee is quite delicious.”)
- Tách cà phê này khá ngon. (“This cup of coffee is quite delicious.”)
How do I pronounce Cà phê này khá ngon, and what are the tones?
Here’s a breakdown with tone names:
- Cà (huyền tone – falling)
- phê (ngang tone – level)
- này (sắc tone – rising)
- khá (sắc tone – rising)
- ngon (ngang tone – level)
Practice saying each syllable with its tone contour, then link them smoothly in one phrase.
How would I say “very delicious” or “a little delicious” instead of “quite delicious”?
Swap out khá for another adverb of degree:
- Rất (very): Cà phê này rất ngon. (“This coffee is very delicious.”)
- Hơi (a little/slightly): Cà phê này hơi ngon. (“This coffee is a bit delicious,” i.e. “It tastes okay.”)
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Vietnamese grammar?”
Vietnamese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning VietnameseMaster Vietnamese — from Cà phê này khá ngon to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions