Quick Answer
Both Mỗi and Từng can be translated as "each" or "every" in English, but they carry slightly different connotations and are used in distinct contexts. Mỗi often refers to regularity or a general distribution among members of a group, emphasizing common attributes or actions. Từng, on the other hand, emphasizes a sequential, individual, or exhaustive consideration of items, often implying a "one by one" or "item by item" approach.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Mỗi | Từng |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Each, every (focus on regularity, distribution) | Each, every (focus on sequential consideration, one by one) |
| Connotation | Regular, habitual, general distribution, emphasizing the individual's participation/attribute. | Exhaustive, sequential, individual items considered separately, often in a series or detailed manner. |
| Usage | Often with time expressions (mỗi ngày, mỗi tuần). Implies a collective, distributed action or state. (Hán-Việt: 每) | Often with verbs describing actions done to individual items. Implies a distinct, separate action for each. |
| Example 1 | Mỗi học sinh có một quyển sách. Each student has one book. | Từng học sinh được gọi tên. Each student was called by name (one by one). |
| Example 2 | Chúng tôi đi bộ mỗi sáng. We walk every morning. | Cô giáo kiểm tra từng bài tập. The teacher checked each exercise (one by one). |
Detailed Explanation
Understanding the subtle difference between Mỗi and Từng is key to sounding more natural in Vietnamese. While both translate to "each" or "every," their specific applications depend on the emphasis you wish to convey.
Mỗi (Each / Every - Regularity & Distribution)
Use Mỗi when you are talking about things that happen regularly or when you want to distribute something equally or generally among individuals in a group. It emphasizes that every member of a group shares a common attribute or participates in an action collectively or habitually. It often appears with time expressions to indicate frequency.
For learners with a background in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, Mỗi (每) has a direct Hán-Việt connection to the character meaning "every" or "each," often used in similar contexts of regularity and distribution.
Từng (Each / Every - Sequential & Exhaustive)
Use Từng when you want to emphasize that something is done "one by one," "item by item," or "step by step." It highlights the individual treatment or consideration of each item in a sequence or a group, often implying a thorough or exhaustive process. When an action is performed distinctly for each subject or object, Từng is the appropriate choice.
While Từng also means "each" or "every," it specifically signals a more deliberate, sequential processing of items, focusing on the individuality of each instance rather than a collective or habitual pattern.
Example Pairs
Mỗi ngày tôi đi làm.
Every day I go to work.
Từng ngày trôi qua thật chậm.
Each day passes very slowly (one by one).
Mỗi người có một ý kiến riêng.
Each person has their own opinion.
Từng người một bước vào phòng.
Each person entered the room one by one.
Mỗi tháng tôi tiết kiệm tiền.
Every month I save money.
Cô ấy ghi lại từng chi tiết.
She noted down each detail (one by one).
Học sinh mỗi người một bàn.
Each student has a desk.
Chúng tôi kiểm tra từng hộp một.
We checked each box, one by one.
Mỗi lần gặp cô ấy, tôi đều vui.
Every time I meet her, I'm happy.
Anh ấy đọc từng trang sách.
He read each page of the book (sequentially).
Mỗi khu vực có khí hậu khác nhau.
Each region has a different climate.
Chính phủ kiểm soát từng vùng.
The government controls each region individually.
Mỗi cuốn sách giá 50.000 đồng.
Each book costs 50,000 VND.
Cô ấy đóng gói từng món quà.
She wrapped each gift, one by one.
Mỗi thành viên đều có quyền bầu cử.
Each member has the right to vote.
Ban tổ chức phỏng vấn từng ứng viên.
The organizers interviewed each candidate, one by one.
Common Patterns
Mỗi + noun of time: For habitual or regular actions.
Mỗi sáng tôi uống cà phê.
Every morning I drink coffee.
Mỗi + quantifier + noun: For distributing or assigning items generally.
Mỗi người một phần.
Each person gets one portion.
Từng + noun: For emphasizing individual items in a sequential or exhaustive process.
Anh ấy kiểm tra từng người.
He checked each person (one by one).
Từng + quantifier + noun + một: A strong indicator for a strict "one by one" action.
Họ giải quyết từng vấn đề một.
They solved each problem one by one.
Từng + verb + một: For emphasizing a step-by-step action.
Họ làm từng bước một.
They did it step by step.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using Từng for regular occurrences or habits
Learners sometimes mistakenly use Từng when referring to actions that happen regularly, such as daily routines.
❌ Từng sáng tôi uống trà.
✅ Mỗi sáng tôi uống trà.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: Từng implies a sequential, one-by-one action or consideration, not a regular, habitual event. For "every morning" or "daily," Mỗi is the correct choice to convey regularity.
Mistake 2 — Using Mỗi to emphasize sequential action
When the intent is to highlight that an action is performed individually and sequentially for each member of a group, Mỗi is often incorrectly used instead of Từng.
❌ Cô giáo gọi mỗi học sinh lên bảng.
✅ Cô giáo gọi từng học sinh lên bảng.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: If the teacher is calling students to the board one after another, in a distinct, individual sequence, Từng is appropriate. Mỗi here would suggest a general statement about all students being called, not the act of calling them sequentially.
Mistake 3 — Confusing a general collective statement with an exhaustive individual review
Sometimes, the nuance of whether something applies generally to all members or is true for each individual item after thorough examination can be tricky.
❌ Mỗi chi tiết rất quan trọng. (If the speaker intends to emphasize *every single detail* being individually crucial during a review process.)
✅ Từng chi tiết rất quan trọng.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: If the intention is to stress that every single detail, considered individually, is important, often implying a thorough inspection or critical assessment, Từng is stronger for this exhaustive consideration. While Mỗi might suggest a general importance distributed across details, Từng emphasizes the distinct and individual importance of each one, implying a "no detail left unexamined" context.
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with mỗi or từng:
Tôi ăn cơm _____ ngày.
Hint: This refers to a daily habit.
Answer
Correct answer: mỗi. Full sentence: Tôi ăn cơm mỗi ngày. Explanation: "Mỗi ngày" is a common phrase for "every day," indicating a regular occurrence or habit.
Fill in the blank with mỗi or từng:
Thợ xây đặt _____ viên gạch một cách cẩn thận.
Hint: The action of placing bricks is done individually and carefully, one after another.
Answer
Correct answer: từng. Full sentence: Thợ xây đặt từng viên gạch một cách cẩn thận. Explanation: "Từng" emphasizes the sequential, item-by-item action of placing each brick individually and with care.
Fill in the blank with mỗi or từng:
_____ cuốn sách trong thư viện này đều rất hay.
Hint: This is a general statement about the quality of all books in the library.
Answer
Correct answer: mỗi. Full sentence: Mỗi cuốn sách trong thư viện này đều rất hay. Explanation: "Mỗi" is suitable here for a general statement about the quality distributed across all books, meaning "every book" in a collective sense. "Từng" would imply an individual review of each book for its quality, which is less common in a general statement like this.