# Cho biết / khẳng định: said / stated in Vietnamese (B2)

> News reports use nói (say) far less than English uses "said". The usual verb for what an official or a witness said is cho biết, literally "let know"…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cho-biet-reporting/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**said / stated**

Pattern: `[person] + cho biết / khẳng định / nhấn mạnh (rằng) + [statement]`

Level: B2 (our estimate) · Register: formal · Medium: written

Typed without accents: cho biet, khang dinh

News reports use *nói* (say) far less than English uses "said". The usual verb for what an official or a witness said is *cho biết*, literally "let know": *Ông Nam, Giám đốc Sở Xây dựng, cho biết công trình sẽ hoàn thành vào tháng 6.* The speaker comes first, usually with a job title, then *cho biết* and what was said. *Rằng* (that) may follow but is usually left out.

Other reporting verbs add a tone. *Khẳng định* (state firmly, affirm) is for a claim the speaker stands behind, or a firm denial: *khẳng định không có chuyện tăng học phí* (stated firmly that fees would not rise). *Nhấn mạnh* (stress) is for the point a leader insists on, typical of reports from meetings. You'll also meet *thông tin* (report, inform) and *chia sẻ* (share), the latter for personal views in interviews.

The quote can come first, with the verb after: *“Chúng tôi sẽ hỗ trợ tối đa”, bà Lan cho biết.*

*Cho biết* names who said it. *Được biết* (it is understood that) opens a sentence without naming anyone. *Nghe nói* (I heard that) is everyday hearsay.

In conversation, use *nói*: *Chị Lan nói mai chỉ không đi* (Lan said she isn't going tomorrow). Saying *cho biết* about a friend sounds like a TV newsreader.

## Examples

- Ông Trần Văn Hùng, Giám đốc Sở Xây dựng, cho biết cây cầu sẽ thông xe vào cuối năm. — Mr Trần Văn Hùng, Director of the Department of Construction, said the bridge would open to traffic at the end of the year.
- Đại diện nhà trường khẳng định không có chuyện thu thêm học phí. — A representative of the school stated firmly that there would be no extra fees.
- Phát biểu tại hội nghị, Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh nhấn mạnh cần ưu tiên nguồn vốn cho giáo dục. — Speaking at the conference, the chairman of the provincial People's Committee stressed that funding must go to education first.
- “Chúng tôi sẽ hỗ trợ tối đa cho các hộ bị thiệt hại”, bà Nguyễn Thị Lan cho biết. — "We will give the affected households all the support we can," said Ms Nguyễn Thị Lan.

## Compare

- [I heard that: nghe nói](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nghe-noi-hearsay/): I've heard that
- [It is reported that: được biết](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-biet/): it is understood that

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