Meaning & Usage
In Vietnamese, the word [mỗi is a quantifier that primarily translates to "each" or "every" in English. At the B1 level, it is crucial to understand that mỗi is used to individualize members of a group or to highlight distributive actions. While English speakers often use "each" and "every" interchangeably, Vietnamese distinguishes between mỗi (each - focusing on the individual) and [mọi (every/all - focusing on the collective group).
The mental model for mỗi is that of a magnifying glass moving through a collection. If you have a group of ten students and you give mỗi người a book, you are visualizing the action of handing the book to Person A, then Person B, then Person C, and so on. It emphasizes the specific, individual experience or distribution. This is why mỗi is frequently paired with specific classifiers or nouns to denote units of time, people, or objects.
From a linguistic perspective, mỗi has its roots in the Sino-Vietnamese word 每 (mỗi), which carries the same meaning of "each" or "often." In modern usage, it is incredibly versatile. In Northern dialects, mỗi is used exactly as defined. In Southern dialects, the usage remains the same, though you might notice variations in the particles that follow it in casual conversation. Regardless of the region, mỗi is a standard and formal word that is appropriate for both academic writing and daily speech. It is essential for expressing frequency (e.g., each morning), distribution (e.g., each person gets one), and diversity (e.g., each person has a different opinion).
Structure & Formation
The structure for using mỗi is relatively straightforward because Vietnamese is an SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) language, and quantifiers typically precede the noun they modify. However, the presence or absence of a classifier can change depending on the noun being used.
Basic Pattern
The most common structure is:
mỗi + (Classifier) + Noun
Here is a breakdown of how it works with different types of nouns:
| Structure | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| mỗi + Time Noun | mỗi ngày, mỗi tháng | each day, each month |
| mỗi + Classifier + Object | mỗi quyển sách | each book |
| mỗi + Noun (People) | mỗi người, mỗi học sinh | each person, each student |
When using mỗi to indicate frequency, it often appears at the beginning of a clause or immediately after the subject. For example: "Mỗi sáng tôi đều tập thể dục" (Each morning I always exercise). The word [đều (all/equally) is frequently used in conjunction with mỗi to emphasize that the action applies consistently to every single individual unit mentioned.
Example Sentences
Time and Frequency
Mỗi sáng, tôi thường dành ba mươi phút để đọc báo.
Each morning, I usually spend thirty minutes reading the newspaper.
Gia đình tôi đi du lịch nước ngoài mỗi năm một lần.
My family travels abroad once each year.
Mỗi khi trời mưa, tôi lại cảm thấy hơi buồn.
Each time it rains, I feel a bit sad.
Distribution and Individuality
Mỗi người trong chúng ta đều có một thế mạnh riêng.
Each of us has our own unique strength.
Cô giáo tặng cho mỗi học sinh một cây bút mới.
The teacher gave each student a new pen.
Mỗi căn phòng trong khách sạn này đều có ban công hướng biển.
Each room in this hotel has a balcony facing the sea.
Comparison and Variety
Mỗi vùng miền ở Việt Nam đều có những đặc sản khác nhau.
Each region in Vietnam has different specialties.
Mỗi món ăn mẹ nấu đều chứa đựng rất nhiều tình yêu thương.
Each dish my mother cooks contains a lot of love.
Chúng tôi cần xem xét kỹ mỗi ý kiến đóng góp của nhân viên.
We need to carefully consider each piece of feedback from the employees.
Abstract or Specific Contexts
Mỗi giai đoạn của cuộc đời đều mang lại những bài học quý giá.
Each stage of life brings valuable lessons.
Mỗi từ mới bạn học được sẽ giúp vốn từ vựng của bạn phong phú hơn.
Each new word you learn will help your vocabulary become richer.
Tôi cố gắng tiết kiệm một ít tiền mỗi tháng để mua nhà.
I try to save a little money each month to buy a house.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing 'mỗi' with 'mọi'
❌ Mọi người đều có một ý kiến khác nhau.
✅ Mỗi người đều có một ý kiến khác nhau.
While "mọi" means "every," it views the group as a whole. When you want to emphasize that the opinions are different or unique to individuals, mỗi is required. Use mỗi when the focus is on the distinctness of the parts.
Mistake 2: Using 'mỗi' with 'tất cả'
❌ Tất cả mỗi sinh viên phải nộp bài đúng hạn.
✅ Mỗi sinh viên phải nộp bài đúng hạn.
In Vietnamese, you generally do not combine "tất cả" (all) and "mỗi" (each) directly in front of the noun as it creates redundancy. Choose one based on whether you want to emphasize the total group or the individual responsibility.
Mistake 3: Incorrect word order with numbers
❌ Hai mỗi người nhận một phần quà.
✅ Mỗi người nhận hai phần quà.
English speakers might try to translate "two for each person" literally. In Vietnamese, mỗi should come before the noun, and the quantity being distributed should follow the verb or the object. If you want to say "two people each," you would usually say "Mỗi người hai cái."
Mistake 4: Omitting the classifier for objects
❌ Mỗi sách đều có giá mười đô la.
✅ Mỗi cuốn sách đều có giá mười đô la.
While some time nouns (ngày, tháng, năm) don't require classifiers, most concrete objects do. Omitting the classifier "cuốn/quyển" for "sách" makes the sentence sound unnatural at a B1 level.
Cultural Notes
Vietnamese culture places a high value on social harmony and the relationship between the individual and the collective. The use of mỗi reflects this by allowing speakers to acknowledge individual contributions or needs within a larger group. For instance, a common idiom is "Mỗi người một vẻ, mười phân vẹn mười" (Each person has their own beauty, all are perfect in their own way). This highlights the cultural appreciation for individual diversity.
In social settings, particularly when sharing food or gifts, using mỗi is a way to ensure fairness. If a host says "Mỗi cháu một cái kẹo nhé" (Each child gets one candy, okay?), it signifies an equitable distribution, which is a key social lubricant in Vietnamese interactions. In business contexts, mỗi is used to define specific roles and responsibilities, ensuring that "mỗi bên" (each party) understands their specific obligations.
Related Grammar Points
- vừa...vừa — Simultaneously (At the Same Time) (Grammar B1)
- mà — Emphasis and Explanation Particle (Grammar B1)
- Từ láy hoàn toàn — Full Reduplication of Adjectives (Grammar B1)
- nào — Urging and Encouraging Particle (Grammar B1)
- bao giờ cũng — Always (Emphatic) (Grammar B1)
- hả, hở — Informal Question Particles (Grammar B1)
Practice Tips
To master mỗi for the NLTV (B1 level) exam, practice writing sentences that describe your daily routine or a distributive process. A common exam task is to describe a process or a scene. Instead of just saying "Tôi uống cà phê sáng" (I drink coffee in the morning), try saying "Mỗi buổi sáng, tôi đều dành thời gian để pha một tách cà phê" (Each morning, I always spend time brewing a cup of coffee). This demonstrates a higher level of grammatical control.
A good exercise is to take a group of items (like a set of photos or a group of friends) and describe one unique thing about mỗi item/person. For example: "Mỗi người bạn của tôi đều đến từ một thành phố khác nhau" (Each of my friends comes from a different city). This helps solidify the distinction between the group (mọi người) and the individual (mỗi người).
Lastly, pay attention to the word đều. In nearly 80% of sentences using mỗi, the adverb đều follows the subject to reinforce the distributive meaning. Practicing the pattern "Mỗi... đều..." is the fastest way to sound like a natural Vietnamese speaker at the intermediate level.