- Rất
- Lắm
- Quá
They may look similar, but they are used in different situations and express different emotions or intensity levels.
1. RẤT – Very (neutral)
- Meaning: Shows high degree, like “very”.
- Emotion: Neutral – no strong emotion.
- Common in: Formal speech, writing, or objective statements.
Examples:
- Tôi rất thích cà phê.
- Cô ấy rất đẹp.
⁕ Tip: Use "rất" when you want to sound polite, formal, or neutral.
2. LẮM – Very/ a lot (with emotion)
- Meaning: Also means “very” or “a lot”, but often shows personal feeling.
- Emotion: Can express happiness, sadness, or complaint.
- Common in: Everyday conversation, emotional situations.
Examples:
- Anh ấy tốt lắm.
- Tôi nhớ nhà lắm.
⁕Tip: "Lắm" is often used in spoken Vietnamese, especially in emotional or informal contexts.
3. QUÁ – Too / So (strong emotion)
- Meaning: Means “very”, sometimes “too” (too much).
- Emotion: Often shows surprise, strong feeling, or complaint.
- Common in: Spoken Vietnamese, exclamations.
Examples:
- Đẹp quá! or Quá đẹp!
- Trời quá nóng! or Trời nóng quá
⁕Tip: "Quá" often appears at the end of the sentence or before an adjective and sounds stronger than "rất" or "lắm".
👉 Emotional level: Rất < Lắm < Quá
Summary: What’s the difference?
👉 Emotional level: Rất < Lắm < Quá
Summary: What’s the difference?
