Rồi (Adv)

Situations

S1: Nam asks about their old friend Loan.

Cô ấy có chồng rồi.
(She got married already.)

Rồi indicates the marriage happened prior to speaking. It doesn't specify current status (still married or divorced).

S2: Hoa asks John if he has read the Tale of Kiều. John answers:

Rồi. Tôi đọc Truyện Kiều rồi, cách đây năm năm.
(Yes. I read it already, five years ago.)

Rồi indicates the action began and terminated in the past.

S3: Nam is picking up his girlfriend at the station. He hears the train whistle.

Năm phút nữa là gặp cô ấy rồi.
(I will meet her in five minutes.)

Meeting hasn't happened yet, but evidence (whistle) makes it certain.

S4: A husband waits for his wife who is getting ready.

Đẹp lắm rồi! Nhanh lên, chúng ta chậm mất rồi!
(You look pretty already! Hurry up, we're late already!)

Rồi affirms the current state (being pretty, being late).

Definition

Rồi, as an adverb, is used to express the idea that a state or an action began before the moment of speaking. It may be completed or not completed, depending on context.

  • rồi and đã: In most cases, rồi can be replaced with đã. Cf. đã (p. 111).

  • rồi and xong: Both indicate an event beginning/terminating before the moment of speaking. Rồi expresses reality, while xong always indicates completion.

[1] Nghe xong / *rồi bản nhạc tôi mới ra về.
    (I'm going home after listening to this piece of music.) (Requires completion.)
[2] Tôi nghe bản nhạc này rồi.
    (I have listened to this piece of music already.)

Combinations

  • đã... rồi:
Cô ấy đã về nước rồi.
(She already went back to her country.)
  • đã rồi: Often used with words like chuyện, việc, sự to indicate a "fait accompli".
Làm như vậy là anh đã đặt tôi trước việc đã rồi.
(What you did presents me with a fait accompli / something already settled.)
  • xong rồi:
Vấn đề này bà ấy đã giải quyết xong rồi.
(She has solved this problem already.)