Definition

1. Verb:

   • To be, to exist: Indicates the state of existence or presence of something or someone.
   • To have, to own, to possess: Indicates possession, ownership, or the relationship between a subject and something that belongs to or is associated with it.
   • To be present, to be included: Indicates that something is part of a whole or is contained within something else.
   • To be characterized by, to have as an attribute: Indicates that a person or thing possesses a certain quality, characteristic, or is involved in an action.

2. Particle:

   • Used for affirmation or emphasis: Used before a verb or adjective to affirm, emphasize, or confirm an action or state. Often used in questions and answers.
   • Used in conditional or hypothetical statements: Used to introduce or emphasize a condition or supposition.
   • Used in prohibitive or dissuasive constructions: Used with words like 'đừng' (don't) or 'chớ' (lest) to add emphasis to a warning or prohibition.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To be/exist):

  • Có ai hỏi, bảo tôi đi vắng. (If there is anyone asking for me, tell him I am not at home.)
  • Cơ hội nghìn năm có một. (There is such an opportunity once in a thousand years.)
  • Loài chim đó không có ở Việt Nam. (That species of bird does not exist in Vietnam.)

• Verb (To have/own):

  • Người cày có ruộng. (The tiller owns his own land.)
  • Công dân có quyền bầu cử. (Citizens have the right to vote.)
  • Chị ấy có hai con. (She has two children.)

• Verb (To be characterized by):

  • Lá có màu xanh. (Leaves are green / Leaves have the color green.)
  • Anh ta có lòng tốt. (He has a good heart / He is kind.)
  • Sách có ba chương. (The book has three chapters.)

• Particle (Affirmation/Emphasis):

  • Tôi có gặp anh ta. (I did meet him. / I have met him.)
  • Anh đến không? - Có, tôi đến. (Are you coming? - Yes, I am coming.)
  • Từ đây đến đó có xa không? (Is it far from here to there?)

• Particle (Conditional):

  • Có đi mới đến. (One can only arrive if one goes. / You have to go to get there.)
  • Anh có đi thì tôi chờ. (If you go, then I will wait.)

• Particle (Prohibition):

  • Anh đừng có đi! (Don't you go!)
  • Mày đừng có nói dối. (Don't you lie!)

Advanced Usage

• "Có... không?": This is the standard structure for forming a yes/no question in Vietnamese. The particle 'có' is placed before the main verb, and 'không' is at the end of the sentence.

  • Anh có khỏe không? (Are you well?)
  • Hôm nay có mưa không? (Is it raining today?)

• "Có... đâu" / "Có... gì đâu": Used to strongly deny or refute something.

  • Tôi có nói thế đâu. (I didn't say that at all.)
  • Có gì đâu mà lo. (There's nothing to worry about.)

• "Có mà...": Used to express doubt about a possibility or to emphasize that something is unlikely.

  • Có mà trời giúp. (Heaven would have to help [for that to happen].)
  • Làm xong có mà nửa đêm. (If we finish, it'll probably be midnight.)

Variants and Related Words

• Được có (phrase): To manage to have, to be fortunate enough to have. Emphasizes the value or difficulty of obtaining something.

  • Được có ngày nghỉ. (To finally have a day off.)

• Có được (phrase): To succeed in having or obtaining. Often interchangeable with 'được có' but can place slightly more emphasis on the act of acquisition.

  • Phải cố gắng mới có được. (You have to try hard to get it.)

• Có... là... (construction): Used to define or specify, often translated as "what... is..." or "the thing that... is...".

  • Cái tôi cần có là thời gian. (What I need is time.)

Synonyms

• Verb (To have): Sở hữu (to own, more formal), nắm giữ (to hold).
• Verb (To exist): Tồn tại (to exist, more formal), hiện diện (to be present).
• Particle (Yes): Vâng, dạ (polite yes), ừ (casual yes).

Related Phrases (Idioms and Common Expressions)

• Có đi có lại: To reciprocate, give and take. (Literal: To have going, to have coming back)

  • Tình cảm là có đi có lại. (Affection is about give and take.)

• Có tật giật mình: Literally "He who has a vice starts with fear." Similar to "He who excuses himself accuses himself" or having a guilty conscience.

  • Anh ấy phản ứng thế, đúng là có tật giật mình. (He reacted like that, truly a sign of a guilty conscience.)

• Có mới nới cũ: To neglect the old when one has something new. (Out with the old, in with the new).

• Có thực mới vực được đạo: One must have material sustenance to uphold righteousness. ("An army marches on its stomach.")
• Có tiếng mà không có miếng: To have a reputation but not the corresponding reality or benefit. ("More fame than fortune.")

verb

1. To be
   • có ai hỏi, bảo tôi đi vắng
     if there is anyone asking for me, tell him I am not at home
   • cơ hội nghìn năm có một
     there is such an opportunity once in a thousand years; once in a lifetime
   • chúng tôi chỉ có ba người tất cả
     there are only three of us in all
   • lá có màu xanh
     leaves are green
   • có tuổi
     to be advanced in years
2. To have, to own
   • người cày có ruộng
     the tillet owns his own land
   • công dân có quyền bầu cử ứng cử