Quick Answer
Both để and cho are fundamental Vietnamese words that can relate to purpose or giving, but they are used in distinct ways. Để primarily introduces a purpose or objective, meaning 'in order to' or 'so that', and can also mean 'to put' or 'to let'. Cho signifies giving, granting, or 'for someone/something', and is also used to indicate a beneficiary or to permit an action.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Để | Cho |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function (A2) | Purpose, 'in order to', 'so that' | Giving, beneficiary, 'for' |
| As a Verb | To put, to leave, to let | To give, to grant, to allow |
| Structure for Purpose | **Để + Verb/Clause** (e.g., học để nói - study in order to speak) | **Cho + Noun** (rarely for direct action purpose, more like 'for the purpose of', e.g., cho mục đích này - for this purpose) |
| Structure for Beneficiary | (Less common directly in this sense) | **Cho + Noun/Pronoun** (e.g., quà cho bạn - a gift for you) |
| Permission/Allowance | **Để + Subject + Verb** (to let someone do something, often passive allowance, e.g., để tôi làm - let me do it) | **Cho + Subject + Verb** (to allow/permit actively, e.g., mẹ cho con đi - mom allows child to go) |
Detailed Explanation
Understanding để and cho is crucial for expressing complex ideas in Vietnamese, especially when talking about reasons, goals, and recipients.
Sử dụng Để (Using Để)
The word để has several key functions, primarily related to purpose, placement, and permission:
To express Purpose ('in order to', 'so that'): This is arguably the most common use of để for A2 learners. It introduces the reason or objective for an action.
Tôi học tiếng Việt để nói chuyện với người địa phương.
I learn Vietnamese in order to talk with local people.
Anh ấy làm việc chăm chỉ để kiếm nhiều tiền hơn.
He works hard so that he can earn more money.
As a verb meaning 'to put', 'to place', or 'to leave': When used as a main verb, để indicates putting something somewhere or leaving something in a certain state.
Bạn để sách ở đâu?
Where did you put the book?
Xin hãy để tôi yên!
Please leave me alone!
To allow or permit ('to let'): In this sense, để indicates allowing someone to do something, often with a nuance of passive acceptance or stepping aside.
Để tôi giúp bạn.
Let me help you.
Để anh ấy đi trước.
Let him go first.
Sử dụng Cho (Using Cho)
The word cho also has multiple important uses, primarily focusing on giving, beneficiaries, and permission:
As a verb meaning 'to give' or 'to grant': This is a direct action of transferring something to someone.
Cô ấy cho tôi một bông hoa.
She gave me a flower.
Làm ơn cho tôi một ly nước.
Please give me a glass of water.
To indicate a Beneficiary ('for someone/something'): Cho specifies who or what benefits from an action or receives something. This is a very common function.
Cái bánh này cho bạn.
This cake is for you.
Anh ấy mua quà cho mẹ.
He bought a gift for his mother.
To allow or permit ('to allow', 'to let'): Similar to để, but cho often implies more active permission or granting access. (Often used with phép to form cho phép).
Bố mẹ cho con đi chơi.
Parents let their child go out to play.
Tôi không cho phép ai vào phòng này.
I don't allow anyone into this room.
To express an opinion or request to someone: Often used with verbs like nói (to tell), hỏi (to ask) when the action is directed at someone.
Nói cho tôi biết chuyện gì đã xảy ra.
Tell me what happened.
Example Pairs
Tôi học tiếng Việt để đi du lịch Việt Nam.
I learn Vietnamese in order to travel to Vietnam.
Tôi mua sách cho em gái tôi.
I bought books for my younger sister.
Anh ấy làm việc chăm chỉ để kiếm tiền.
He works hard in order to earn money.
Cái áo này không cho tôi.
This shirt is not for me.
Để tôi giúp bạn một tay.
Let me give you a hand.
Bạn có thể cho tôi mượn bút không?
Can you lend me a pen?
Tôi để chìa khóa trên bàn.
I put the keys on the table.
Bạn cho tôi chìa khóa được không?
Can you give me the keys?
Chúng ta cần tiết kiệm tiền để mua nhà.
We need to save money in order to buy a house.
Tôi làm món này cho cả nhà ăn.
I made this dish for the whole family to eat.
Bác sĩ dặn tôi để thuốc ở nơi khô ráo.
The doctor told me to keep the medicine in a dry place.
Mẹ cho con uống thuốc đúng giờ.
Mom gives the child medicine on time.
Cửa hàng này mở cửa để phục vụ khách hàng.
This store is open to serve customers.
Cái ghế này làm cho người già.
This chair is made for elderly people.
Xin hãy để tôi nói.
Please let me speak.
Cô giáo cho học sinh nghỉ sớm.
The teacher allowed students to leave early.
Common Patterns
Để làm gì? (What for? What's the purpose?)
Bạn mua cái này để làm gì?
What did you buy this for?
Cho ai? (For whom?)
Món quà này cho ai vậy?
Who is this gift for?
Để + Verb/Clause (Purpose)
Chúng tôi đi Hà Nội để thăm gia đình.
We went to Hanoi to visit family.
Cho + Noun/Pronoun (Beneficiary)
Tôi viết thư cho bạn tôi.
I wrote a letter to my friend.
Cảm ơn / Xin lỗi cho + Noun/Clause (Thanks / Sorry for...)
Cảm ơn cho lời khuyên của bạn.
Thank you for your advice.
Xin lỗi cho sự chậm trễ.
Sorry for the delay.
Để + Noun + (ở đâu) (To put/leave something somewhere)
Anh ấy để điện thoại trên bàn.
He left his phone on the table.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using 'cho' for purpose when 'để' is needed for an action
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 'cho' before a verb to express purpose, which is typically the domain of 'để'.
❌ Tôi học tiếng Anh cho nói chuyện với người nước ngoài.
✅ Tôi học tiếng Anh để nói chuyện với người nước ngoài.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: 'Cho' is usually followed by a noun or pronoun to indicate a beneficiary ('for whom') or is a verb meaning 'to give'. When expressing the purpose of an action ('in order to' do something), 'để' followed by a verb is the correct structure.
Mistake 2 — Using 'để' as the main verb 'to give'
Confusing the verb 'để' (to put/leave/let) with the verb 'cho' (to give).
❌ Anh ấy để tôi một món quà.
✅ Anh ấy cho tôi một món quà.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: 'Để' means 'to put,' 'to leave,' or 'to let.' To express the act of giving something to someone, 'cho' is the correct verb. The mistaken sentence implies "He put/left a gift for me" (which could be possible but not the primary meaning of giving) rather than "He gave me a gift."
Mistake 3 — Incorrectly using 'cho' with 'làm' to express purpose of an action
While 'cho' can follow 'làm' in phrases like 'làm cho ai đó' (do something for someone), it's incorrect to use 'cho làm' to mean 'in order to do'.
❌ Tôi muốn đi chợ cho mua rau.
✅ Tôi muốn đi chợ để mua rau.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: The phrase 'cho mua rau' doesn't correctly convey the purpose 'in order to buy vegetables'. Instead, 'để mua rau' is the standard way to express the purpose of going to the market. 'Cho' would be correct if it were a beneficiary, e.g., 'Tôi mua rau cho mẹ' (I buy vegetables for my mother).
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with để or cho:
- Tôi đang học tiếng Việt _____ có thể xem phim không cần phụ đề.
Hint: The blank indicates the purpose or objective of learning Vietnamese.
Answer
Correct answer: để
Tôi đang học tiếng Việt để có thể xem phim không cần phụ đề.
Explanation: 'Để' is used here to express the purpose ('in order to') of learning Vietnamese.
- Bạn có thể ______ tôi mượn cuốn sách này không?
Hint: The blank indicates the act of granting permission or giving something.
Answer
Correct answer: cho
Bạn có thể cho tôi mượn cuốn sách này không?
Explanation: 'Cho' is used to ask for permission or to ask someone to lend/give something to you.
- Mẹ làm bánh ______ con gái.
Hint: The blank indicates the recipient or beneficiary of the action.
Answer
Correct answer: cho
Mẹ làm bánh cho con gái.
Explanation: 'Cho' is used here to indicate the beneficiary ('for her daughter') of the action of making a cake.