# Classifier alone when the noun is clear in Vietnamese

> When it's clear what you mean, keep the classifier and drop the noun: cái này (this one), cái đó (that one, the one we're talking about), cái kia (that…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/clf-alone/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**this one, that one**

Pattern: `[classifier] + này / đó / kia / nào · [number] + [classifier]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Situations: [Shops and services](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?use=service)

When it's clear what you mean, keep the classifier and drop the noun: *cái này* (this one), *cái đó* (that one, the one we're talking about), *cái kia* (that one over there), *con này* (this one, an animal), *cuốn nào?* (which one, a book). The classifier, the small counting word, stands in for the noun, much as "one" does in English.

This is how you point and buy: *Cho em cái này.* I'll have this one. *Chị lấy cái nào?* Which one would you like? Use the classifier the noun would take: *trái này* for fruit (in Hà Nội *quả này*), *con kia* for a fish or a puppy.

*Này*, *đó*, *kia* and *nào* can't stand on their own as "this one", "that one" or "which one". The classifier has to stay: *muốn cái này*, never *muốn này*. *Đây* doesn't work here either; it's for introducing (*Đây là …*), not for "this one".

Numbers work the same way. Once you know what's being counted, the number and the classifier are enough: *Cho anh hai cái.* Two, please. *Em lấy ba trái.* I'll take three.

When the thing isn't clear yet, say the noun: *cái áo này* (this shirt).

## A common mistake

✗ Em muốn này.

✓ Em muốn cái này.

*Này* can't stand alone as "this one". Keep the classifier: *cái này*.

## Examples

- Cho em cái này. — I'll have this one.
- Chị lấy cái nào? — Which one would you like?
- Saigon: Trái này ngọt không chị? | Hà Nội: Quả này ngọt không chị? — Is this one sweet?
- Con kia dễ thương quá! — That one's so cute!
- Saigon: Anh lấy hai cái nha. | Hà Nội: Anh lấy hai cái nhé. — I'll take two.

## Compare

- [This, that after the noun: … này, … đó, … kia](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/noun-nay-this/): this / that (noun)
- [This is, that is: Đây là, Đó là, Kia là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/day-la-this-is/): this / that is
- [Classifier for one particular thing, bare noun for things in general: con chó này, chó](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/clf-specific-general/): one particular thing vs things in general

Previous in Things, counting and numbers: [Brother, sister, son, daughter: trai / gái after the family word](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/trai-gai/)
Next in Things, counting and numbers: [Classifier for one particular thing, bare noun for things in general: con chó này, chó](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/clf-specific-general/)

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