# Topic, then a small sentence about it in Vietnamese

> To describe someone by one feature, name the person, then the feature, then the adjective: Chị Lan tóc dài. Lan has long hair (literally, Lan, hair long).

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/double-subject/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**X, her hair is long**

Pattern: `[topic] + [noun] + [adjective or verb]`

Level: B1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

To describe someone by one feature, name the person, then the feature, then the adjective: *Chị Lan tóc dài.* Lan has long hair (literally, Lan, hair long). There's no "has" and no "her". The person is what you're talking about, and *tóc dài* is a small sentence about them.

This is how people describe looks and character: *mắt to* (big eyes), *tính nóng* (quick-tempered): *Ông ngoại tôi tính hơi nóng.* It works for places and things too, and it's the language of food reviews: *Quán này đồ ăn ngon, giá rẻ.* This place has good food and low prices.

Aches go the same way: *Dạo này em hay đau lưng.* My back often hurts lately. With illness, *bị* often comes in front: *Em bị đau đầu.*

The longer form with *có* also exists, *Chị Lan có mái tóc dài*, but it sounds like a written description. To contrast two people, add *thì* after each: *Chị Lan thì tóc dài, còn chị Hoa thì tóc ngắn.*

## Examples

- Chị Lan tóc dài, mắt to. — Lan has long hair and big eyes.
- Quán này đồ ăn ngon mà giá rẻ. — This place has good food, and it's cheap.
- Ông ngoại tôi tính hơi nóng. — My grandpa is a bit quick-tempered.
- Dạo này em hay đau lưng. — My back often hurts lately.

## Compare

- [As for X: X + thì …](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thi-topic/): topic / contrast with thì

Previous in Là, có, and how verbs work together: [Thought (wrongly): tưởng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tuong-mistaken/)
Next in Là, có, and how verbs work together: [Verbs that take đến: ảnh hưởng đến, liên quan đến](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/den-verbs/)

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