Quick Answer
In Vietnamese, mỗi focuses on individuals within a group (Each), mọi refers to the entire group as a whole (Every/All), and từng emphasizes a sequence or the distinctness of each unit one at a time (Each one/One by one).
Comparison Table
| Word | Hán-Việt | Primary Meaning | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mỗi | 每 (Mỗi) | Each | Individual items in a set | Mỗi người một ý. Each person has their own opinion. |
| mọi | N/A | Every / All | The collective total | Mọi người đều đến. Everyone has arrived. |
| từng | N/A | Each / Every single | Sequence or step-by-step | Ăn từng miếng một. Eat piece by piece. |
Detailed Explanation
1. Mỗi (Each): This word is used when you want to highlight the individual nature of objects or people within a limited group. It is often used in distributive contexts (giving one to each). In Hán-Việt, this corresponds to the character 每 (mỗi), which is very helpful for learners of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.
2. Mọi (Every / All): This is a universal quantifier. It views the group as a whole without focusing on the differences between individuals. It is similar to the English "every" or "all." Note that while "mọi" refers to all, it is usually followed by a singular noun (e.g., mọi người, not mọi những người).
3. Từng (Each one / One by one): This word emphasizes the separation or the progression of things. It is used when you want to show that things are happening in a specific order or to emphasize that not a single unit was missed. It is more emphatic than "mỗi."
Example Pairs
Mỗi người có một sở thích khác nhau.
Each person has a different hobby. (Focuses on individual differences)
Mọi người đều thích ăn phở.
Everyone likes eating pho. (Focuses on the whole group)
Tôi uống thuốc mỗi ngày.
I take medicine each day. (Focuses on the daily occurrence)
Mọi ngày tôi đều dậy sớm.
Every day (without exception), I wake up early.
Anh ấy đọc mỗi trang sách cẩn thận.
He reads each page of the book carefully. (General distributive)
Anh ấy đọc từng trang sách một.
He reads every single page one by one. (Emphasizes the sequence/thoroughness)
Mỗi nơi tôi đến đều rất đẹp.
Each place I visit is very beautiful.
Mọi nơi trên thế giới đều có internet.
Every place in the world has internet.
Common Patterns
Mọi người: This is the standard way to say "everyone" or "everybody." You rarely say "mỗi người" unless you are specifically talking about individuals within a small group.
Mỗi khi / Mỗi lần: These mean "each time" or "whenever." They are used to describe recurring actions.
Từng bước một: A very common phrase meaning "step by step." It highlights the process.
Mỗi người một...: A pattern used to describe distribution. For example: "Mỗi người một chiếc bánh" (Each person gets one cake).
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using "mọi" for distribution
Learners often use "mọi" when they actually want to give one item to each person.
❌ Chia bánh cho mọi người một cái.
✅ Chia cho mỗi người một cái bánh.
Why it's wrong: "Mọi" treats the group as a mass. For distribution (one to each), you must use "mỗi."
Mistake 2 — Using plural markers with "mọi"
Foreigners often think because "mọi" means "every/all," they need to add plural markers like "những" or "các."
❌ Mọi những sinh viên đều đi học.
✅ Mọi sinh viên đều đi học.
Why it's wrong: "Mọi" already implies the whole group; adding "những" is redundant and grammatically incorrect in Vietnamese.
Mistake 3 — Confusing "từng" and "mỗi" in sequence
When describing a process that happens in order, "mỗi" is too weak.
❌ Tôi làm việc mỗi bước.
✅ Tôi làm việc từng bước một.
Why it's wrong: "Từng" implies the sequence or the "one-by-one" nature of steps, which is necessary for describing processes.
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with mọi or mỗi:
_____ người trong gia đình tôi đều có điện thoại riêng.
Hint: You are talking about the members of a group having something individually.
Answer
Mỗi người trong gia đình tôi đều có điện thoại riêng. (Explanation: Use "mỗi" because it emphasizes that each individual member has their own separate phone.)
Fill in the blank with từng or mọi:
Đừng vội vàng, hãy giải quyết _____ vấn đề một.
Hint: The phrase ends with "một" (one), suggesting a sequential approach.
Answer
Đừng vội vàng, hãy giải quyết từng vấn đề một. (Explanation: "Từng... một" is a fixed structure meaning "one by one.")
Fill in the blank with mọi or từng:
_____ thứ ở đây đều miễn phí.
Hint: You are referring to everything in a general, collective sense.
Answer
Mọi thứ ở đây đều miễn phí. (Explanation: Use "mọi" to refer to the collective whole of "everything.")