# The full noun phrase in Vietnamese (A1)

> When a noun has several words around it, they line up in a fixed order: number, classifier, noun, describing word, then này, đó or kia (this, that, that…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/np-full-order/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**noun phrase order**

Pattern: `[number] or những / các + [classifier] + [noun] + [adjective] + này / đó / kia`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

When a noun has several words around it, they line up in a fixed order: number, classifier, noun, describing word, then *này*, *đó* or *kia* (this, that, that over there). "These two white shirts" is *hai cái áo trắng này*, literally "two piece shirt white this". *Những* or *các* take the number's place at the front: *những cái áo trắng này* (these white shirts).

An easy way to remember it: what counts goes before the noun (*những*, the number, the classifier), and what describes goes after it, with *này* or *đó* last of all.

Where *này* stands matters. *Cái áo trắng này* is a phrase, "this white shirt". *Cái áo này trắng* is a full sentence, "This shirt is white", because once *này* closes off the noun, the word after it becomes the statement.

Colours often come with *màu* (colour): *cái nón màu xanh* (a blue hat). Another describing word can go before the colour: *cái áo mới màu đỏ* (the new red shirt).

## A common mistake

✗ Chị lấy hai cái áo này trắng.

✓ Chị lấy hai cái áo trắng này.

*Này* comes last, after the describing word. *Cái áo này trắng* is a sentence: "This shirt is white."

## Examples

- Chị lấy hai cái áo trắng này. — I'll take these two white shirts.
- Saigon: Em thích cái nón màu xanh kia. | Hà Nội: Em thích cái mũ màu xanh kia. — I like that blue hat over there.
- Ba con mèo nhỏ này của ai? — Whose are these three little cats?
- Cái áo này đẹp quá! — This shirt is so pretty!

## Compare

- [Describing words come after the noun: nhà lớn, not lớn nhà](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/adj-after-noun/): adjective after noun
- [This, that after the noun: … này, … đó, … kia](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/noun-nay-this/): this / that (noun)

Previous in Things, counting and numbers: [Some of them (plural): những](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nhung-plural/)
Next in Things, counting and numbers: [The owner comes after the noun: nhà của tôi, mẹ tôi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/owner-after-noun/)

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