Cứ (Adv)

Situations

S1: Lan always goes to bed at 9 o'clock, whether in summer or winter, whether she is tired or fine.

Cứ 9 giờ tối cô ấy đi ngủ.
(She goes to bed at 9 o'clock, as a rule.)
(Lit. Always at 9 o'clock, she goes to bed.)

In this situation, 9 o'clock is always the definite point of time at which Lan goes to bed, and she does not change under any circumstance.

S2: Nam and Hà ride to Vũng Tàu by bicycle, leaving at 6 a.m. They intend to arrive in Vũng Tàu at 6 p.m. But after 2 hours, they had already gone 40 kilometers (a speed of 20 km/h). Nam says:

Cứ tốc độ này, 12 giờ trưa chúng ta sẽ đến Vũng Tàu.
(Continuing at this speed, we will arrive at noon.)

Ho Chi Minh City is 120 km from Vũng Tàu. At a speed of 20 km/h, Nam can be sure that it will take six hours to arrive in Vũng Tàu. In other words, the speed of 20 km/h is a condition that must be maintained in order for them to arrive in Vũng Tàu at noon. Complementary example:

Anh cứ đi thẳng đường Nguyễn Huệ, anh sẽ thấy công ty Fahasa.
(Keep going straight on this street, and you will see Fahasa Co.)

(You follow Nguyễn Huệ street + neither turn left nor turn right + don't worry + don't concern yourself about anything else.)

S3: It was raining, and Nam was ill. So Hà recommended that Nam not go to school, but Nam still went. Hà says:

[1a] Tôi khuyên Nam nghỉ học, nhưng Nam cứ đi học.
     (I advised him to stay home, but Nam still went to school.)
[1b] Trời mưa mà Nam cứ đi học.
     (It was raining but Nam still went to school.)
[1c] Nam bị bệnh, nhưng Nam cứ đi học.
     (Nam was ill, but he still went to school.)

In this situation, Nam went to school under unfavorable circumstances (it was raining, Nam was ill). But for Nam that doesn't matter.

S4: Nam came to the office to ask Mr. Thu about his salary. Mr. Thu invites him:

Anh cứ ngồi! Cứ tự nhiên! Có gì cần anh cứ nói!
(Please sit down, make yourself at home, and don't hesitate to say what you want!)

In this situation, the director Thu encourages Nam to speak, and not to be shy or worry. Complementary examples:

[1] (Có tiếng gõ cửa) - Ai đó? - Cứ vào!... Anh cứ ngồi!
    (Someone knocks at the door. Who's that? - Please come in! Please sit down!)
    (Invitation.)
[2] Những em nào chưa hiểu cứ hỏi, đừng ngại gì cả!
    (Those who don't understand yet can go ahead and ask a question. Don't hesitate!)
    (Encouragement.)
[3] Ông không đồng ý à? Ông không đồng ý, tôi cũng cứ làm!
    (You don't agree? I will do it anyway!)
    (Defying someone.)

Definition

Cứ, as an adverb, is used to indicate a certain condition (an action or state) that, if met, will accomplish a particular result (regardless of any other factor) (S1, S2) or to express the continuation of an action or state under any circumstance (S3). Cứ is also used to invite (friendly), to give an order, to propose, to encourage or to defy (S4).

  • Cứ and hễ: Cf.
[1a] Cứ 9 giờ là tôi đi ngủ.
     (Always at 9 o'clock I go to bed regardless of other factors.)
[1b] Hễ 9 giờ là tôi đi ngủ.
     (Always at 9 o'clock I go to bed. It is a habit but sometimes there are exceptions.)

Hễ also expresses the absolute relationship (cause-effect), but it does not imply an action regardless of other factors.

  • Cứ and vẫn: Cf:
[2a] Nam bị ho, bác sĩ cấm Nam hút thuốc, nhưng Nam cứ hút.
     (Nam has a cough. The doctor prohibits him from smoking, but Nam smokes anyway.)
[2b] Bác sĩ cấm hút thuốc, nhưng Nam vẫn hút.
[2c] Nam bị ho nhưng Nam vẫn hút thuốc.

In [2a], Nam continues to smoke in spite of the advice of the doctor. In [2b] and [2c], Nam keeps smoking although this action is not good for his health. Vẫn expresses the idea of continuation without any change, but it also implies regardless of any situation, the same as cứ in [2a]. Cf. vẫn (p. 397).

Combinations

  • cứ... là ...: Expresses an absolute cause-effect relationship.
[1] Cứ trời mưa là con đường này ngập nước.
    (Whenever it rains, this road gets flooded.)

Besides expressing an absolute cause-effect relationship, cứ... là... can be used to express habit or repetition.

[2] Cứ có tiền là nó uống rượu.
    (Whenever he has money, he drinks alcohol.)
  • cứ ngày ngày / chiều chiều / đêm đêm: Every day / afternoon / night.
[3] Cứ chiều chiều cô ấy lại ra cửa chờ chồng về.
    (Every afternoon, she stands at the door waiting for her husband.)
  • ... vẫn cứ ... / cứ ... vẫn ...:
[4] Tôi khuyên Nam nghỉ học, Nam vẫn cứ đi học.
    (I advised Nam to take off from school; Nam goes anyway.)
  • nhưng / mà (...) vẫn cứ ...:
[5] Tôi đã nói rồi mà cô ấy vẫn cứ không nghe.
    (I told her, but she would not listen to me.)

Cf. **vẫn** (p. 397).