# Cứ: go ahead in Vietnamese (A2)

> Cứ before a verb tells someone to go ahead and not hold back: Có gì em cứ hỏi anh. If anything comes up, just ask me.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cu-go-ahead/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**go ahead**

Pattern: `(person) + cứ + [verb] (+ đi / nha)`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: cu

*Cứ* before a verb tells someone to go ahead and not hold back: *Có gì em cứ hỏi anh.* If anything comes up, just ask me. It reassures: there's no need to worry, wait or be polite about it. It goes after the person and before the verb, and *đi* or *nha* can follow at the end.

You'll hear it most in a few friendly phrases. *Cứ tự nhiên* is "make yourself at home" or "help yourself". *Anh cứ để đó* is "just leave it", often with an offer: *em làm cho*, I'll do it. To a guest who starts to get up, *Chị cứ ngồi đi* means "please, stay where you are".

*Cứ* also says that something keeps happening, often when it's annoying: *Trời cứ mưa.* It just keeps raining. In Saigon, *hoài* at the end adds "over and over" (in Hà Nội, *mãi*): *Thằng nhỏ cứ khóc hoài.* The little boy keeps on crying.

*Cứ* gives permission or encouragement. *Hãy* gives an instruction and sounds formal, and *đi* at the end urges someone on.

## Examples

- Saigon: Chị cứ tự nhiên nha. | Hà Nội: Chị cứ tự nhiên nhé. — Make yourself at home.
- Có gì em cứ hỏi anh. — If anything comes up, just ask me.
- Saigon: Anh cứ để đó, em làm cho. | Hà Nội: Anh cứ để đấy, em làm cho. — Just leave it, I'll do it.
- Saigon: Thằng nhỏ cứ khóc hoài. | Hà Nội: Thằng bé cứ khóc mãi. — The little boy keeps on crying.

## Words in this pattern

- [cứ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/cu-go-ahead/#s_cu_go_ahead): go ahead

## Compare

- [Strong or formal command: hãy + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hay-imperative/): do …! (firm)

Previous in Can, must, should, want: [Do it for me: verb + giùm / hộ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/giup-ho-favour/)
Next in Can, must, should, want: [It seems: hình như, có vẻ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-ve-seems/)

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