# Cần: need in Vietnamese (A2)

> Cần means "need". Put it before a verb for "need to", and before a noun for "need something": Chiều nay em cần đi ngân hàng.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/can-need/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**need**

Pattern: `[person] + cần + [verb or noun] · không cần + [verb]`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: can

Variants:

- cần phải

*Cần* means "need". Put it before a verb for "need to", and before a noun for "need something": *Chiều nay em cần đi ngân hàng.* I need to go to the bank this afternoon. *Tôi cần thêm hai cái ghế.* I need two more chairs.

To ask, use *có … không* as usual: *Anh có cần giúp không?* Do you need a hand? Answer *Dạ, cần* or *Dạ, không cần*. In a shop you'll often hear *Chị cần gì không?*, which works like "Can I help you?"

*Không cần* means "there's no need": *Anh không cần mang gì hết.* You don't need to bring anything. On its own, *Không cần đâu* is the friendly way to turn down an offer of help.

*Cần phải* is a stronger "really need to", common when giving advice: *Em cần phải nghỉ ngơi.* You really need to rest.

Compared with its neighbours, *cần* says what is necessary, *phải* says what you have to do whether you like it or not, and *nên* says what would be a good idea. *Mai em phải đi làm* is "I have to work tomorrow"; *Em nên đi ngủ sớm* is "You should go to bed early".

## Examples

- Chiều nay em cần đi ngân hàng. — I need to go to the bank this afternoon.
- Tôi cần thêm hai cái ghế. — I need two more chairs.
- Anh có cần giúp không? — Do you need a hand?
- Dạ, không cần đâu. Cảm ơn anh. — No need, thanks.

## Words in this pattern

- [cần](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/can-need/#s_can_need): need

## Compare

- [Must, have to: phải + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-must/): must
- [Should: nên + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nen-should/): should
- [No need to: khỏi + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khoi-no-need/): no need to, don't bother

Previous in Can, must, should, want: [Naming the person softens a command: anh / em (ơi) first, then the verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/command-with-address/)
Next in Can, must, should, want: [No need to: khỏi + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khoi-no-need/)

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