mỗi₃ is used when the speaker emphasizes contrast or complaint, often to say that something keeps happening again and again, usually in an undesirable way. Speakers use mỗi₃ to highlight repetition that feels annoying, excessive, or contrary to expectation.
The focus is on emotional emphasis, not neutral repetition.
[1] – Mỗi₃ nói đến chuyện đó là anh ấy cãi. Every time that topic comes up, he argues.
→ The speaker is dissatisfied with the repetition.
[2] – Mỗi₃ lần tôi gọi thì không ai nghe máy. Every time I call, no one answers.
→ The repetition is frustrating.
[3] – Mỗi₃ bảo học thì nó lại chơi. Whenever I tell him to study, he plays instead.
→ What happens is opposite of what should happen.
mỗi₃ vs mỗi₂
– mỗi₂: neutral repetition in time – mỗi₃: emotionally marked repetition
[4a] – Tôi tập thể dục mỗi₂ ngày. I exercise every day.
[4b] – Mỗi₃ tập thể dục là tôi mệt. Every time I exercise, I get tired. (implied complaint)
mỗi₃ vs hễ
– mỗi₃: more emotional, conversational – hễ: more neutral, literary
[5a] – Mỗi₃ thấy mưa là tôi lo. Every time I see rain, I worry.
[5b] – Hễ trời mưa thì đường ngập. Whenever it rains, the streets flood.
• mỗi₃ often appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
• Common in spoken Vietnamese.
• Frequently used with là or thì.
• Carries speaker attitude (annoyance, complaint, irony).
• mỗi₃ + clause + là / thì + clause
– Mỗi₃ đi làm trễ là bị sếp nhắc. Every time I’m late for work, the boss reminds me.
• mỗi₃ + verb phrase
– Mỗi₃ nghe nhạc to là tôi đau đầu. Every time he plays loud music, I get a headache.
mỗi₃ adds feeling — it tells the listener that repetition is not just happening, but bothering the speaker.