It is necessary to (no subject): cần + verb

X needs to be done

Pattern: Cần + [verb] + [object] (no subject) · Cần lưu ý / Cần nhấn mạnh (rằng) + [point]

B2 · estimateformalwritten

Typed without accents: can luu y

Variants

  • Cần lưu ý (rằng) …
  • Cần nhấn mạnh (rằng) …

In recommendations, guidelines and reports, cần often starts a sentence with no subject at all: Cần tăng cường kiểm tra an toàn thực phẩm (food safety inspections need to be stepped up). English uses "should be" or "it is necessary to"; Vietnamese simply leaves out who does it, because the reader knows it's whoever is responsible.

You'll see it in the conclusions of papers, in official guidance, and in lists of tasks, one item per line: Cần rà soát …, Cần bố trí …. Health news uses it to advise the public: Cần đưa trẻ đi khám ngay khi sốt cao. Leaders' speeches use it to set tasks.

Two fixed openers point the reader to something important: Cần lưu ý (rằng) … (it should be noted that …) and Cần nhấn mạnh (rằng) … (it must be stressed that …). Both are common in papers and in tax or legal guidance. Không cần works the same way: Không cần nộp bản sao công chứng (no certified copy is needed).

In everyday speech, cần has a person in front: Em cần nghỉ ngơi (you need rest). Without a subject it sounds like a notice or a report, so in conversation say who: Mình phải kiểm tra lại (we need to check again).

Examples

  • Cần tăng cường kiểm tra an toàn thực phẩm tại các bếp ăn trường học.

    Food safety inspections in school kitchens need to be stepped up.

  • Khi trẻ sốt cao liên tục, cần đưa trẻ đến cơ sở y tế ngay.

    If a child has a persistent high fever, the child should be taken to a clinic at once.

  • Cần lưu ý rằng số liệu năm 2024 chỉ bao gồm khu vực thành thị.

    It should be noted that the 2024 figures cover urban areas only.

  • Khi nộp hồ sơ trực tuyến, không cần nộp bản giấy.

    When applying online, there is no need to submit a paper copy.

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