# Nên / khuyên … nên: should in Vietnamese (A2)

> Nên before a verb means "should": Em nên nghỉ ngơi một chút. You should get some rest.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nen-should/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**should**

Pattern: `[person] + (không) nên + [verb] · khuyên + [person] + nên + [verb]`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: nen, khuyen … nen

*Nên* before a verb means "should": *Em nên nghỉ ngơi một chút.* You should get some rest. It gives advice or a suggestion, and with *mình* (we) it suggests doing something together: *Mình nên đi sớm.* We should leave early.

For "shouldn't", put *không* in front: *Anh không nên uống cà phê buổi tối.* You shouldn't drink coffee in the evening. To ask for advice, use *có … không* or a question word: *Em có nên mua cái này không?* Should I buy this? *Em nên mua cái nào?* Which one should I buy? Answer *nên* or *không nên*.

To report advice, *khuyên* (advise) comes first, then the person, then *nên*: *Bác sĩ khuyên ba nên bỏ thuốc lá.* The doctor advised Dad to quit smoking (in Hà Nội, *bố*).

*Nên* is also the word for "so", between a reason and a result: *Trời mưa nên em ở nhà.* It rained, so I stayed home. As "should", it sits before the verb: *Trời mưa, em nên ở nhà.* It's raining, you should stay home.

*Phải* (must) is stronger. *Nên* leaves the choice to the other person.

## A common mistake

✗ Em nên không uống cà phê buổi tối.

✓ Em không nên uống cà phê buổi tối.

For "shouldn't", *không* goes before *nên*: *không nên*.

## Examples

- Em nên nghỉ ngơi một chút. — You should get some rest.
- Anh không nên uống cà phê buổi tối. — You shouldn't drink coffee in the evening.
- Em có nên mua cái này không chị? — Should I buy this one?
- Saigon: Bác sĩ khuyên ba nên bỏ thuốc lá. | Hà Nội: Bác sĩ khuyên bố nên bỏ thuốc lá. — The doctor advised Dad to quit smoking.

## Words in this pattern

- [nên](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/nen-so/#s_nen_should): should

## Compare

- [Must, have to: phải + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-must/): must
- [Because …, so …: vì … nên](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/vi-nen-so/): because …, so
- [Had better: nên … thì hơn](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nen-thi-hon/): had better

Previous in Can, must, should, want: [Requesting formally: đề nghị / yêu cầu + person + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/de-nghi-yeu-cau/)
Next in Can, must, should, want: [Strong or formal command: hãy + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hay-imperative/)

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