Discourse Connectors in Vietnamese

Overview

Discourse connectors organize written and formal spoken Vietnamese into logical structures. They include sequencing markers ("thứ nhất" = firstly), additive markers ("ngoài ra" = besides), summary markers ("tóm lại" = in summary), and contrastive markers ("mặt khác" = on the other hand).

At the CEFR B2 level, these connectors are essential for academic writing, formal presentations, and structured arguments. They are predominantly Sino-Vietnamese in origin and carry a distinctly formal register.

How It Works

Connector	Meaning	Function
thứ nhất	firstly	sequencing
thứ hai	secondly	sequencing
ngoài ra	besides/in addition	additive
tóm lại	in summary	concluding
mặt khác	on the other hand	contrasting
nói cách khác	in other words	reformulation
nói chung	in general	generalization
cụ thể là	specifically	specification
cuối cùng	finally/lastly	concluding sequence
đặc biệt	especially	emphasis

Examples in Context

Vietnamese	English	Note
Thứ nhất, cần chuẩn bị.	Firstly, need to prepare.	sequencing
Ngoài ra, còn có vấn đề khác.	Besides, there are other issues.	additive
Tóm lại, kết quả rất tốt.	In summary, the results are very good.	concluding
Mặt khác, chi phí cũng cao.	On the other hand, the cost is also high.	contrasting
Nói cách khác, không đủ tiền.	In other words, not enough money.	reformulation
Cụ thể là, cần thêm 3 người.	Specifically, need 3 more people.	specification
Nói chung, mọi thứ ổn.	In general, everything is fine.	generalization
Đặc biệt là vấn đề này.	Especially this issue.	emphasis
Cuối cùng, xin cảm ơn.	Finally, thank you.	closing
Thêm vào đó, thời tiết xấu.	In addition to that, the weather was bad.	additive

Common Mistakes

Using Discourse Connectors in Casual Speech

• Wrong: Thứ nhất, tôi muốn ăn phở. Thứ hai, tôi muốn uống cà phê. (for casual ordering)
• Right: Reserve sequencing connectors for formal arguments and presentations
• Why: Discourse connectors belong to formal register. Using them in casual speech sounds unnaturally stiff.

Overloading with Connectors

• Wrong: Starting every sentence with a connector
• Right: Use connectors at structural transitions, not in every sentence
• Why: Too many connectors make writing feel mechanical rather than fluid.

Usage Notes

Vietnamese formal writing values explicit logical marking more than English does. A well-structured Vietnamese essay typically uses discourse connectors at each logical transition. This is considered clear writing, not redundant.

Practice Tips

• Write a short structured argument (3 paragraphs) using at least 4 different discourse connectors.
• Read Vietnamese newspaper editorials and underline all discourse connectors to see how professionals use them.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Basic Conjunctions — informal connectors