Được (Can/OK/To Get) in Vietnamese

Overview

"Được" is one of the most versatile words in Vietnamese, functioning in at least four distinct roles: expressing ability ("nói được" = can speak), indicating permission ("được phép" = allowed), marking successful results ("mua được" = managed to buy), and serving as a positive passive marker. Its meaning shifts depending on position and context.

At the CEFR A1 level, learning the basic uses of "được" is essential because it appears in countless everyday expressions. "Được không?" (Is it OK?) is one of the most common question endings, and "Không được" (Can't / Not allowed) is an equally frequent response.

Understanding "được" is crucial because it fills roles that English splits across "can," "may," "get," "be able to," and "OK." This versatility makes it extremely high-frequency but requires attention to context for correct interpretation.

How It Works

Function	Pattern	Example	Meaning
Ability (post-verb)	Verb + được	Ăn được.	Can eat. / It's edible.
Ability (pre-verb)	được + Verb	Được ăn.	Allowed to eat.
Result/success	Verb + được + Object	Mua được xe.	Managed to buy a car.
Permission question	...được không?	Đi được không?	Can I go? / Is it OK?
Affirmative	Được!	Được rồi!	OK! / That's fine!
Negative	Không được	Không được!	Not allowed! / Can't!

Position matters:

Position	Example	Meaning
After verb	nói được	can speak (ability)
Before verb	được nói	allowed to speak (permission)
Standalone	Được!	OK! / Yes!

Examples in Context

Vietnamese	English	Note
Ăn được.	It's edible. / Can eat.	ability after verb
Tôi nói được tiếng Anh.	I can speak English.	ability
Được rồi!	OK! / That's fine!	agreement
Không được!	Not allowed! / Can't!	prohibition
Đi được không?	Can we go? / Is it OK to go?	permission question
Tôi mua được rồi.	I managed to buy it.	successful result
Được phép vào.	Allowed to enter.	formal permission
Ăn cái này được không?	Can I eat this?	asking permission
Tìm được chưa?	Have you found it yet?	result + chưa
Chạy không được.	Can't run.	inability
Ở đây được.	It's OK to stay here.	permission/acceptance
Nấu ăn được lắm!	Cooks very well!	ability + emphasis

Common Mistakes

Confusing Pre-verb and Post-verb Position

• Wrong: Thinking "được ăn" and "ăn được" mean the same thing
• Right: "Được ăn" = allowed to eat (permission); "ăn được" = can eat / edible (ability/possibility)
• Why: Position changes meaning. Pre-verb = permission granted by someone; post-verb = inherent ability or possibility.

Using Được for General Ability (Like Có Thể)

• Wrong: Được nói ba ngôn ngữ. (for general ability "can speak three languages")
• Right: Nói được ba ngôn ngữ. or Có thể nói ba ngôn ngữ.
• Why: For general ability/skill, post-verb "được" or "có thể" is more natural than pre-verb "được."

Overusing Không Được as a Response

• Wrong: Using "không được" for simple disagreement
• Right: "Không" (no) for disagreement; "không được" for prohibition or inability
• Why: "Không được" carries a stronger sense of impossibility or prohibition than simple "no."

Usage Notes

"Được không?" appended to any statement turns it into a permission/feasibility question: "Ngồi đây được không?" (Can I sit here?). This is one of the most practical patterns in Vietnamese.

In Southern Vietnamese, "được" is pronounced more like "đuợc" with a slightly different vowel quality. The word "được" also functions in the positive passive (contrasting with "bị" for negative passive), which becomes important at B1 level.

Practice Tips

• Master the "...được không?" question pattern first, as it covers asking permission, checking feasibility, and making polite requests in one structure.
• Practice the contrast: "ăn được" (can eat/edible) vs "được ăn" (allowed to eat). Create pairs for several verbs until the position-meaning link is automatic.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Basic Verb Structure — được modifies verb structures