# Mới: only then in Vietnamese (A2)

> You know mới as "just": Chị Lan mới tới. With a time word in front, it means "not until, only then": Mười giờ chị Lan mới tới. Lan didn't come until ten.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/moi-not-until/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**only then**

Pattern: `[time] + [person] + mới + [verb]`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: moi

You know *mới* as "just": *Chị Lan mới tới.* With a time word in front, it means "not until, only then": *Mười giờ chị Lan mới tới.* Lan didn't come until ten. It says something happened later than expected, or later than you'd like.

The time comes first, then the person, then *mới* right before the verb: *Chín giờ tối em mới về.* I won't be home until nine tonight. It works for the past and the future alike; the context tells you which.

Instead of a clock time, the first part can be a length of time or an event: *Chờ nửa tiếng xe buýt mới tới.* We waited half an hour before the bus came. *Ăn xong rồi mình mới đi.* We'll go once we've eaten.

Compare *Mười giờ chị Lan tới*, which just gives the time, with *Mười giờ chị Lan mới tới*, which adds "so late". For the opposite feeling, "already, as early as", use *đã … rồi*: *Sáu giờ anh Nam đã dậy rồi.* Nam was already up at six.

## A common mistake

✗ Chị Lan không tới đến mười giờ.

✓ Mười giờ chị Lan mới tới.

Vietnamese doesn't say "not … until". Put the time first and *mới* before the verb, with no *không*.

## Examples

- Saigon: Mười giờ chị Lan mới tới. | Hà Nội: Mười giờ chị Lan mới đến. — Lan didn't come until ten.
- Chín giờ tối em mới về. — I won't be home until nine tonight.
- Saigon: Chờ nửa tiếng xe buýt mới tới. | Hà Nội: Đợi nửa tiếng xe buýt mới đến. — We waited half an hour before the bus came.
- Saigon: Ăn xong rồi mình mới đi nha. | Hà Nội: Ăn xong rồi mình mới đi nhé. — We'll go once we've eaten, OK?

## Words in this pattern

- [mới](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/moi-only-then/#lx_moi): not until

## Compare

- [Just happened: vừa / mới / vừa mới](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/vua-moi-just/): has just
- [Only if, to … you must: phải … mới, muốn … thì phải](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-moi-only-if/): only if / to … you have to

Previous in Time and when things happen: [Not any more: không … nữa](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-nua-anymore/)
Next in Time and when things happen: [Right away, while you're at it: verb + luôn](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/luon-right-away/)

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