Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Also; too; as well: Used to indicate that a statement or action applies equally to another person or thing, often placed before the main verb or after the subject.
   • Even; very: Used to emphasize a quality or extent, often in a concessive or surprising sense.
   • Same; either: Used to express similarity, agreement, or that something is identical or comparable.

Usage Examples

• Adverb (Also/Too):
  • Tôi cũng thích cà phê. (I also like coffee.)
  • Cô ấy cũng sẽ đến. (She will come too.)
• Adverb (Even/Very):
  • Anh ấy cũng không biết câu trả lời. (Even he doesn't know the answer.)
  • Cái áo cũng đẹp đấy. (That shirt is quite nice.)
• Adverb (Same/Either):
  • Ai cũng có thể tham gia. (Anyone/Either person can participate.)
  • Ngày nào cũng như ngày nào. (Every day is the same.)

Advanced Usage

• "dù... cũng..." / "cho... cũng...": Even if... still...; Used to form concessive clauses.
  • Dù mưa cũng phải đi. (We have to go even if it rains.)
  • Cho có khó khăn cũng phải cố gắng. (You must try even if it's difficult.)
• "... thì cũng...": ...then it's still...; Used to downplay a consequence or state a result is acceptable.
  • Làm sai thì cũng không sao. (If you make a mistake, it's still okay.)
• "... cũng được": ...is also fine/acceptable; Used to express permission or that an option is satisfactory.
  • Uống trà cũng được. (Drinking tea is fine too.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cũng vậy: Likewise; in the same way.
  • Tôi nghĩ cũng vậy. (I think likewise.)
• Cũng như: As well as; similar to.
  • Anh ấy thích bóng đá cũng như bóng rổ. (He likes football as well as basketball.)
• Cũng là: Is also; Used for identification.
  • Cô ấy cũng là giáo viên. (She is also a teacher.)

Synonyms

• Đều: All; each and every (often used for plural subjects to indicate "all").
• Nữa: Also; too; in addition (often used at the end of a clause).
• Vẫn: Still; nevertheless (indicates continuation or contrast).

Related Phrases (Structure Patterns)

• Ai cũng...: Everyone...; Whoever... (Used with interrogative pronouns like (who), (what), (where) to mean "any" or "every").
  • Ở đâu cũng đông. (It's crowded everywhere.)
• ... mà cũng...: ...and yet also...; Expresses mild surprise that something/someone also does something.
  • Trẻ con mà cũng hiểu chuyện đó. (Even a child understands that.)

Related Idioms

• Thuận vợ thuận chồng, tát biển Đông cũng cạn: With harmony between husband and wife, even the East Sea can be bailed dry. (Meaning: Unity and cooperation can achieve the impossible. Illustrates the use of cũng in a concessive conditional structure.)
• Chậm mà chắc cũng được: Slow but sure is also acceptable. (Meaning: It's okay to be slow as long as you are steady and reliable.)

adv

1. also; as; too
   • tôi cũng nghĩ vậy
     I think so
2. Even; very
   • cũng mái trường cũ ấy
     That very old school
3. Same; either