# Nói cách khác: that is / in other words in Vietnamese

> These three all restate something in clearer or plainer terms, but they sit in different places.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/noi-cach-khac/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**that is / in other words**

Pattern: `[term or statement] + tức là / nghĩa là + [explanation] · (Hay) nói cách khác, [restatement]`

Level: B2 (our estimate) · Register: formal

Typed without accents: noi cach khac, tuc la, nghia la

These three all restate something in clearer or plainer terms, but they sit in different places.

*Tức là* and *nghĩa là* go inside the sentence, right after a term or a statement, to explain it: *Tỷ lệ sinh là 1,4 con, tức là thấp hơn mức sinh thay thế.* The birth rate is 1.4 children, that is, below replacement level. *Nghĩa là* also defines a word: *Kiều bào nghĩa là người Việt sống ở nước ngoài.* *Kiều bào* means Vietnamese people living abroad. *Có nghĩa là* is a fuller form of *nghĩa là*.

*Nói cách khác* (in other words, literally "said another way") opens a new sentence that sums up what came before from another angle: *Nói cách khác, chi phí sẽ do người dân chịu.* In other words, residents will bear the cost. *Hay nói cách khác* is common too, with *hay* meaning "or".

*Nói cách khác* belongs to papers, commentary and explanations in the news. *Tức là* and *nghĩa là* are just as much at home in speech. When someone wants you to explain, you'll hear *Tức là sao?* or *Nghĩa là sao?*, "Meaning what?" And *tức là* often starts a spoken check: *Tức là mai mình được nghỉ hả?* So that means we're off tomorrow? In Hà Nội: *Tức là mai mình được nghỉ à?*

## Examples

- Tỷ lệ sinh của thành phố chỉ còn 1,4 con, tức là thấp hơn nhiều so với mức sinh thay thế. — The city's birth rate is down to 1.4 children per woman, that is, well below replacement level.
- Dự án mới giải ngân 30% vốn, nghĩa là hơn hai phần ba vẫn chưa được sử dụng. — The project has disbursed only 30% of its funds, meaning more than two thirds is still unused.
- Nói cách khác, chi phí nâng cấp cuối cùng vẫn do người dân chi trả. — In other words, residents will still end up paying for the upgrade.
- Saigon: Tức là mai mình được nghỉ hả anh? | Hà Nội: Tức là mai mình được nghỉ à anh? — So that means we get the day off tomorrow?

## Words in this pattern

- [nghĩa là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/nghia-la/#s_nghia_la): it means

Previous in News, official and academic writing: [Tending to: có xu hướng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-xu-huong/)
Next in News, official and academic writing: [The following, below: sau đây, dưới đây](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/sau-day/)

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