"Cứ A là B" in Vietnamese: meaning, usage & examples (Southern dialect)

Definition

What it means

English

The structure "Cứ A là B" indicates a cause-and-effect relationship, often implying regularity or a habitual pattern. It means 'Whenever A happens, B happens' or 'It's always the case that when A happens, B follows'.

Tiếng Việt

Cấu trúc "Cứ A là B" diễn tả mối quan hệ nguyên nhân - kết quả, thường xuyên xảy ra, mang tính quy luật. Nghĩa là cứ mỗi lần A xảy ra thì B sẽ xảy ra theo sau.

Examples

In real Southern Vietnamese

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Cứ thấy anh ấy là anh ấy cứ ôm cái điện thoại.

Every time I see him, he's always on his phone.
Cứ mưa là đường ngập hết.

Whenever it rains, the streets flood.
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Usage notes

Frame: 'Cứ A là B' = 'Whenever A, B happens'. Marks a habitual or near-inevitable pattern. The 'cứ' emphasizes repetition; 'là' marks the consequence. Used for routines, allergies, predictable reactions: 'Cứ mưa là đường ngập.' Slight overlap with 'hễ A thì B' (entry 208) — 'cứ' feels more colloquial.

Cứ A là B

What it means

In real Southern Vietnamese

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