Quick Answer
“Tuy nhiên”, “mặc dù vậy”, and “song” are formal concession connectors used to introduce a contrasting idea or an unexpected outcome following a previous statement. While often interchangeable, “tuy nhiên” is the most versatile, “mặc dù vậy” emphasizes a stronger concession, and “song” is highly formal and literary, typically found in written discourse.
Comparison Table
| Connector | Meaning | Usage | Formality | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuy nhiên | However, nevertheless, still | Most common and versatile. Can appear at the beginning or mid-sentence. | Formal to semi-formal | Anh ấy đã cố gắng rất nhiều, tuy nhiên, kết quả không như mong đợi. (He tried very hard; however, the results were not as expected.) |
| Mặc dù vậy | Even so, despite that, nevertheless | Emphasizes a stronger concession or unexpectedness. Usually appears at the beginning of a sentence. | Formal | Trời mưa rất to. Mặc dù vậy, buổi lễ vẫn diễn ra đúng kế hoạch. (It rained very heavily. Despite that, the ceremony still proceeded as planned.) |
| Song | However, but, yet | Highly formal, literary. Often connects two clauses or sentences, usually at the beginning of the second clause. | Very formal, literary | Nhiệm vụ này rất khó khăn, song chúng ta phải hoàn thành. (This mission is very difficult; however, we must complete it.) |
Detailed Explanation
In Vietnamese, expressing concession or contrast between two ideas requires careful selection of connectors. “Tuy nhiên”, “mặc dù vậy”, and “song” all serve this purpose, but their usage varies in terms of nuance, formality, and common placement within a sentence or discourse. Understanding these differences is key to achieving a sophisticated command of the language, especially in formal writing or speech.
Tuy nhiên
“Tuy nhiên” (雖然 - tuy nhiên) is arguably the most common and versatile of the three. It functions similarly to “however” or “nevertheless” in English.
It can be used to introduce a contrasting idea that follows naturally from the previous statement, or to soften a disagreement. Its flexibility allows it to appear at the beginning of a new sentence, after a semicolon, or sometimes even mid-sentence after a comma. It fits well in a wide range of contexts, from everyday formal discussions to academic writing.
Mặc dù vậy
“Mặc dù vậy” (literally “despite like that”) carries a stronger sense of concession, akin to “even so” or “despite that.” It is typically used when the contrasting statement is particularly unexpected or goes against what one might logically assume from the preceding information.
This connector often signals a more significant shift or emphasizes the persistence of an action or state in the face of adversity. It nearly always appears at the beginning of a new sentence or clause, following a full stop or a semicolon, making it a very strong transitional phrase.
Song
“Song” (Hán-Việt: 尚 - thượng, or 雙 - song) is the most formal and literary of the three. It translates most closely to “however,” “but,” or “yet” in a very elevated sense. Its use is predominantly found in written texts such as literature, academic papers, official reports, or formal speeches.
It connects ideas with a high degree of formality and often creates a sense of gravitas. Using “song” in casual conversation might sound overly dramatic or out of place. It typically introduces a contrasting clause or sentence, often without a preceding conjunction.
Example Pairs
Giá cả tăng cao. Tuy nhiên, chất lượng sản phẩm vẫn không được cải thiện.
Prices increased. However, product quality still hasn't improved.
Giá cả tăng cao. Mặc dù vậy, chất lượng sản phẩm vẫn không được cải thiện.
Prices increased. Even so, product quality still hasn't improved.
Công việc rất áp lực, tuy nhiên, tôi vẫn cảm thấy vui vẻ.
The work is very stressful; however, I still feel happy.
Công việc rất áp lực. Mặc dù vậy, tôi vẫn cảm thấy vui vẻ.
The work is very stressful. Despite that, I still feel happy.
Anh ấy đã từ chối lời đề nghị hấp dẫn. Tuy nhiên, anh ấy không hề hối hận.
He refused the attractive offer. However, he didn't regret it at all.
Anh ấy đã từ chối lời đề nghị hấp dẫn, song anh ấy không hề hối hận.
He refused the attractive offer; however, he didn't regret it at all.
Thời tiết xấu, tuy nhiên chuyến bay vẫn cất cánh đúng giờ.
The weather was bad; however, the flight still took off on time.
Thời tiết xấu. Mặc dù vậy, chuyến bay vẫn cất cánh đúng giờ.
The weather was bad. Even so, the flight still took off on time.
Quyết định này gặp nhiều phản đối. Tuy nhiên, chính phủ vẫn kiên quyết thực hiện.
This decision faced much opposition. However, the government remained resolute in implementing it.
Quyết định này gặp nhiều phản đối, song chính phủ vẫn kiên quyết thực hiện.
This decision faced much opposition; however, the government remained resolute in implementing it.
Kế hoạch có nhiều điểm yếu. Tuy nhiên, nó vẫn được thông qua.
The plan had many weaknesses. However, it was still approved.
Kế hoạch có nhiều điểm yếu. Mặc dù vậy, nó vẫn được thông qua.
The plan had many weaknesses. Despite that, it was still approved.
Cô ấy bị bệnh nặng, tuy nhiên, cô ấy vẫn hoàn thành công việc.
She was seriously ill; however, she still completed the work.
Cô ấy bị bệnh nặng, song cô ấy vẫn hoàn thành công việc.
She was seriously ill; however, she still completed the work.
Dự án tốn kém rất nhiều tiền. Tuy nhiên, hiệu quả mang lại chưa rõ rệt.
The project cost a lot of money. However, the effectiveness brought about is not yet clear.
Dự án tốn kém rất nhiều tiền. Mặc dù vậy, hiệu quả mang lại chưa rõ rệt.
The project cost a lot of money. Even so, the effectiveness brought about is not yet clear.
Common Patterns
When you need a direct, general "however" for a variety of formal contexts, Tuy nhiên is almost always a safe choice.For emphasizing a strong, sometimes surprising, contrast, especially when the second clause overcomes an obstacle presented in the first, Mặc dù vậy is highly effective.In highly formal or literary writing, when seeking an elegant and concise way to introduce a contrasting idea, Song is often preferred, particularly after a comma or semicolon to connect clauses within a single complex sentence.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using “Song” in casual conversation
Learners often use “song” in informal spoken contexts, which can sound overly dramatic or out of place. “Song” is best reserved for written or highly formal spoken language.
❌ Hôm nay trời mưa, song tôi vẫn đi chơi với bạn.
✅ Hôm nay trời mưa, tuy nhiên tôi vẫn đi chơi với bạn.
“Song” makes the sentence sound too formal for a casual situation. “Tuy nhiên” is more appropriate for general formal or semi-formal contexts.
Mistake 2 — Incorrect placement of “Mặc dù vậy”
“Mặc dù vậy” usually functions as a strong introductory phrase for a new sentence or a distinct clause, rather than embedding it too deeply within a clause or making it sound redundant.
❌ Anh ấy đã cố gắng rất nhiều, mặc dù vậy anh ấy vẫn thất bại.
✅ Anh ấy đã cố gắng rất nhiều. Mặc dù vậy, anh ấy vẫn thất bại.
Placing “Mặc dù vậy” at the beginning of a new sentence clearly separates the ideas and emphasizes the concession more effectively. A comma is typically used after “Mặc dù vậy” when it starts a sentence.
Mistake 3 — Overusing “Tuy nhiên” when a stronger contrast is needed
While “Tuy nhiên” is versatile, sometimes a stronger concession is intended, and “Mặc dù vậy” would convey the nuance more precisely.
❌ Tình hình kinh tế rất khó khăn, tuy nhiên, công ty vẫn đạt được lợi nhuận cao.
✅ Tình hình kinh tế rất khó khăn. Mặc dù vậy, công ty vẫn đạt được lợi nhuận cao.
The economic situation being very difficult and the company still achieving high profits is a significant contrast. “Mặc dù vậy” better expresses this stronger, perhaps surprising, concession.
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with Tuy nhiên or Mặc dù vậy:
Cô ấy đã học rất chăm chỉ, _____ cô ấy vẫn trượt kỳ thi.
Hint: The result is a direct contradiction of the hard work.
Answer
Correct answer with full sentence and explanation: Cô ấy đã học rất chăm chỉ, tuy nhiên cô ấy vẫn trượt kỳ thi. (This is a common contrast.)
Fill in the blank with Tuy nhiên or Song:
Bộ phim nhận được nhiều lời khen, _____ doanh thu lại không như mong đợi.
Hint: This is a formal statement, but not overly literary.
Answer
Correct answer with full sentence and explanation: Bộ phim nhận được nhiều lời khen, tuy nhiên doanh thu lại không như mong đợi. (“Tuy nhiên” fits well for general formal reporting. “Song” would be too literary here.)
Fill in the blank with Mặc dù vậy or Song:
Mục tiêu rất tham vọng. _____ chúng ta sẽ không lùi bước.
Hint: This expresses a strong determination despite a challenging situation, suitable for a formal declaration.
Answer
Correct answer with full sentence and explanation: Mục tiêu rất tham vọng. Mặc dù vậy, chúng ta sẽ không lùi bước. (“Mặc dù vậy” strongly emphasizes the persistence despite the ambitious goal. “Song” could also work here in a very formal speech, but “Mặc dù vậy” captures the 'despite that' nuance more directly for this context.)