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In Vietnamese, by combining question words such as “Ai” (who), “Gì” (what), and “Đâu” (where) with “cũng”, you can create expressions that refer to the whole (affirmative) like “everyone,” “anything,” or “everywhere,” as well as express total negation. This pattern is very frequently used in daily conversation, so let’s learn them together as a set.
Basic Structure:
Basically, it means “everything/everyone that the question word refers to.” In affirmative sentences, it means “all ~” or “any ~,” and when used with a negative word, it carries a meaning of total negation, such as “nothing ~” or “no one ~.”
① Affirmative Sentences (Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Always)
When used in an affirmative sentence, it emphasizes that “everything/everyone is so” without exception.
Example Sentences:
① Ai cũng biết chuyện đó.
→ Everyone knows that story.
② Tôi ăn cái gì cũng được.
→ I can eat anything (Anything is fine).
③ Anh ấy đi đâu cũng mang theo máy ảnh.
→ Wherever he goes (Everywhere), he takes a camera with him.
④ Cô ấy lúc nào cũng vui vẻ.
→ She is always happy.
* “Lúc nào cũng” (at any time = always) and “Bao giờ cũng” (whenever = always) are frequently used to express frequency.
② Negative Sentences (No one, Nothing, Nowhere)
When followed by a negative word (không / chẳng / chưa), it expresses a strong, total negation (“not a single one”).
Example Sentences:
⑤ Hôm nay tôi mệt nên cái gì cũng không muốn làm.
→ Today I am tired, so I don’t want to do anything.
⑥ Tôi tìm khắp nơi nhưng đâu cũng không thấy.
→ I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
⑦ Ai cũng không tin lời anh ấy nói.
→ No one believes what he says.
Common Combinations
The target changes depending on the question word. Let’s organize them in the table below.
| Vietnamese | Meaning (Affirmative) | Meaning (Negative) |
| Ai cũng | Anyone, everyone | No one |
| Cái gì cũng (Gì cũng) |
Anything, everything | Nothing |
| Đâu cũng (Ở đâu cũng) |
Anywhere, everywhere | Nowhere |
| Lúc nào cũng (Bao giờ cũng) |
Anytime, always | Never (*depending on context) |