Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause, to make: "làm cho" indicates the action of causing something to happen or making someone/something be in a particular state. It connects a subject's action to its effect or result on an object.

Usage

• Structure: Subject + làm cho + Object + Result/State.
• Function: It is used to express causation. The phrase introduces the consequence or effect that the subject's action brings about for the object.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy luôn làm cho tôi cười. (She always makes me laugh.)
  • Tin tức đó làm cho mọi người lo lắng. (That news caused people to worry.)
  • Âm nhạc làm cho căn phòng trở nên ấm áp hơn. (Music makes the room feel warmer.)

Advanced Usage

• Emphasizing an unintended or significant consequence: Often used to highlight a notable or sometimes negative outcome.
  • Một lời nói vô tình có thể làm cho người khác tổn thương. (A careless word can make others hurt.)
• In formal or written language: Used to state causes and effects clearly.
  • Chính sách mới làm cho nền kinh tế phát triển. (The new policy caused the economy to develop.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khiến cho (verb): To cause, to make. A very close synonym, often interchangeable with "làm cho".
  • Câu chuyện khiến cho tôi suy nghĩ. (The story made me think.)
• Làm (verb): To do, to make. A more general verb. "Làm cho" is a more specific causative form.
  • Anh ấy làm bài tập. (He does homework.) / Anh ấy làm cho tôi vui. (He makes me happy.)

Synonyms

• Gây ra (verb): To cause, to bring about. Often used for negative or neutral outcomes.
  • Sự cố gây ra thiệt hại lớn. (The incident caused great damage.)
• Dẫn đến (verb): To lead to. Often used for logical or sequential results.
  • Lạm phát cao dẫn đến giá cả tăng. (High inflation leads to rising prices.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Làm cho ra (phrase): To make something turn out a certain way, to produce. (Less common, more specific).
  • Hãy làm cho ra vẻ nghiêm túc. (Try to make yourself look serious.)

Related Idioms

• Làm cho nên (idiom): To make something successful, to build/achieve. This is a fixed idiom.
  • Hai vợ chồng chung sức làm cho nên cơ nghiệp. (The husband and wife joined forces to build a successful career.)
• Ai làm cho... (poetic/idiomatic structure): A classic structure found in poetry and proverbs to pose a rhetorical question about cause.
  • Ai làm cho bướm lìa hoa, Cho chim xanh nỡ bay qua vườn hồng? (Who caused the butterfly to leave the flower, Caused the blue bird to fly past the rose garden?)

verb

1. to cause, to make