# Làm gì có: there's no …! in Vietnamese (A2)

> Làm gì có …! at the start of a sentence firmly denies that something exists or is true, like "There's no such thing!" or "No way!": Làm gì có chuyện đó!

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lam-gi-co/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**there's no …!**

Pattern: `Làm gì có + [noun]! · [person] + làm gì có + [noun]`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday · Medium: spoken

Typed without accents: lam gi co

*Làm gì có …!* at the start of a sentence firmly denies that something exists or is true, like "There's no such thing!" or "No way!": *Làm gì có chuyện đó!* That's not true at all! It isn't a question, even though it contains *gì*.

On its own, *Làm gì có!* is a quick, strong "no", often with a laugh, when someone suggests something you want to wave away: *Anh có bạn gái rồi hả?* Got a girlfriend, then? *Làm gì có!* Of course not!

It can also follow the person, for something they certainly don't have: *Cuối tháng rồi, em làm gì có tiền.* It's the end of the month, I haven't got any money. You may also hear *làm gì* before another verb, for "how could I …": *Em làm gì biết!* How would I know?

*Đâu có* and *có … đâu* also push back against what someone said. *Làm gì có* is stronger, and mostly about whether something is there or happened at all. Both are lively, everyday speech. With someone older, a gentle *Dạ, không có đâu* is safer.

## Examples

- Saigon: Anh có bạn gái rồi hả? | Hà Nội: Anh có bạn gái rồi à? — Got a girlfriend, then?
- Làm gì có! — Of course not!
- Làm gì có chuyện đó! — That's not true at all!
- Cuối tháng rồi, em làm gì có tiền. — It's the end of the month, I haven't got any money.

## Compare

- [But I didn't! có … đâu, đâu có](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-dau-denial/): denying what was said
- [What's the point?: … (mà) làm gì](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lam-gi-whats-the-point/): there is no point in

Previous in Saying no and not: [But I didn't! có … đâu, đâu có](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-dau-denial/)
Next in Saying no and not: [Not clearly vs not exactly: nói không rõ / không nói rõ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/negation-manner/)

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