Được (Adv)

Situations

S1: The teacher gives a difficult exercise and asks who has the ability to do it. Only Nam raises his hand:

Mọi người không làm được, chỉ có Nam làm được.
(No one can do it. Only Nam is able to do it.)

In this situation, được indicates his potential ability: Nam can do it.

S2: The class is taking a test. After half an hour, Hà asks Nam: "Have you finished it yet?". Nam says:

Chưa, tôi mới làm được ba câu thôi.
(Not yet. I have only completed three questions.)

In this situation, in which Nam has finished 3 questions, được expresses the result Nam has attained, not his ability.

S3: Hoa has a headache. Nga gives Hoa some medicine. A while later, Nga asks: "How are you now? Are you better?". Hoa answers:

Cám ơn chị. Tôi khỏe được một chút rồi.
(Thank you. I feel a little better.)

In this situation, được indicates the state "khỏe" which the speaker has obtained.

Definition

Được, as an adverb, is used to express ability (S1), the result of an action (S2), or the result of a state that has been attained (S3).

  • được and nổi / xuể: To express ability, nổi / xuể can replace được. But xuể relates to large quantities, and nổi is often used to refer to things that are difficult to do. Cf:
[1] Cái túi này nặng quá, tôi không xách được / nổi / *xuể.
    (This bag is too heavy; I can't lift it.)

Sometimes, được / nổi / xuể can be used to indicate the same thing or the same phenomenon according to the viewpoint of the speaker. Cf:

[2a] Chim nhiều quá, tôi đếm không được.
     (There are so many birds that I can't count them.) (No ability.)
[2b] Chim nhiều quá, tôi đếm không nổi.
     (There are so many birds; I can't count them because it's too difficult.)
[2c] Chim nhiều quá, tôi đếm không xuể.
     (There are so many birds; I can't count them because they're too numerous.)
  • According to the situation, it is necessary to distinguish between the adverb of ability and the adverb of result. Cf:
[3a] (Ai có thể làm được việc này?) - Tôi, tôi làm được.
     (Who can do this? - I can. I can do it.) (Ability.)
[3b] (Ai làm được việc này rồi?) - Tôi, tôi làm được rồi.
     (Who has done this work? - I did. I did it.) (Result.)
  • It is necessary to distinguish the meaning of goodness / luck in the two following cases. Cf:
[4a] Hôm qua Nam được gặp ông Tân.
     (Nam fortunately got to meet Mr. Tân yesterday.)
[4b] Hôm qua Nam gặp được ông Tân.
     (Nam managed to meet Mr. Tân at last yesterday.)

[4a] expresses that the event of meeting Mr. Tân (a certain important person) is a pleasure and an honor for Nam. [4b] expresses that the event of meeting Mr. Tân is also a good, lucky thing for Nam but this is the result of an action: Nam looked for Mr. Tân (perhaps for a very long time), and finally met him.

Combinations

  • ... cho được / ... cho bằng được:
[1] Tôi phải tìm cho bằng được chiếc chìa khóa.
    (I have to find the key at any cost.)
[2] Giành cho được chiến thắng nhé!
    (Win it at any cost!)
  • không thể được / không thể ... được:
[3] Ông ấy nói gì tôi không thể hiểu được.
    (What he says, I can't understand it.)
[4] (Cô ấy có chồng rồi à?) - Không thể được, không thể như thế được!
    (She is married? - It can't be! It's impossible!)
  • ... lấy được: Indicates a resolution, attempt or action without regard to the result (often implies competition or lack of responsibility).
[5] Anh ta chẳng hiểu gì mà cũng cố nói lấy được.
    (He doesn't understand anything yet still tries hard to speak anyway.)