Để

/ɗe˧˨ʔ/

Common Vietnamese function word with multiple meanings: 1. (preposition) to put, to leave, to place; 2. (conjunction) in order to, so that; 3. (verb) to keep, to reserve; 4. (particle) used to soften a request or statement

Tôi học tiếng Việt để giao tiếp với bạn bè Việt Nam.

I learn Vietnamese in order to communicate with Vietnamese friends.

Etymology

Để originates from Old Vietnamese *de, derived from Proto-Austroasiatic *dɛːʔ meaning 'to put, to place'. Over time, it developed additional grammatical functions as a conjunction and particle.

Memory Aid

Remember this word by linking its short sound to the idea of 'to put [something] to [do a goal]' — one word serves both placement and purpose.

Collocations

để riêngđể dànhđể làm gìđể chođể ý

Synonyms

nhằmchođặt

Antonyms

lấyrút

Related Words

nênmàlàm