cũng cứ

Tôi biết trời mưa, nhưng tôi cũng cứ đi.

Definition

1. Adverb phrase:
   • Still, nevertheless, anyway: Indicates that an action is performed or a situation exists despite contrary circumstances, expectations, or advice. It conveys a sense of persistence or continuation regardless of other factors.
   • All the same, just the same: Used to show that a previous statement or condition does not prevent the action in question from happening.

Usage Examples

• Adverb phrase:
  • Tôi biết trời mưa, nhưng tôi cũng cứ đi. (I know it's raining, but I'm going anyway.)
  • Anh ấy đã được khuyên không nên làm thế, nhưng anh ấy cũng cứ làm. (He was advised not to do it, but he did it all the same.)
  • Dù bận rộn, cô ấy cũng cứ dành thời gian đọc sách mỗi tối. (Even though she's busy, she still makes time to read every evening.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cũng cứ" to express gentle insistence or habitual action despite minor obstacles:
  • Mẹ tôi hay nói: "Con không đói thì cũng cứ ăn một chút cho khỏe." (My mother often says: "Even if you're not hungry, you should still eat a little to stay healthy.")
  • Công việc này khó, nhưng chúng ta cũng cứ phải cố gắng. (This task is difficult, but we nevertheless have to try.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cứ: (Adverb) Used to indicate persistence, continuation, or a command to proceed. It is the core component of "cũng cứ".
  • Cứ làm đi! (Just do it!)
• Vẫn cứ: (Adverb phrase) Still, persistently. This is a stronger or more emphatic variant of "cũng cứ".
  • Anh ấy vẫn cứ im lặng. (He remained silent anyway.)
• Dù sao...cũng...: (Conjunction phrase) "No matter what... still...". This structure expresses a similar concessive meaning.
  • Dù sao chúng ta cũng phải hoàn thành. (No matter what, we still have to finish.)

Synonyms

• Tuy nhiên: However, nevertheless (more formal, often starts a contrasting clause).
• Dẫu vậy: Even so, nonetheless (literary/concessive).
• Vẫn: Still, yet (indicates continuation of a state, less focused on defiance).

Related Phrases

• Cũng cứ là...: A phrase used to affirm that something remains true or valid despite doubts.
  • Nghe có vẻ lạ, nhưng nó cũng cứ là sự thật. (It sounds strange, but it is nevertheless the truth.)
• Cũng cứ phải...: Must still... (expresses an unavoidable obligation despite circumstances).
  • Dù mệt, tôi cũng cứ phải thức khuya làm nốt việc. (Even though I'm tired, I still have to stay up late to finish the work.)

Related Idioms

• Biết vậy nhưng cũng cứ...: Knowing that, but still... (A common spoken pattern to admit a contradiction in one's actions).
  • Biết là đường xa, nhưng tôi cũng cứ muốn đến thăm. (I know it's far, but I still want to visit.)