# Figuring out, realising in Vietnamese (B1)

> After verbs of thinking and searching, ra means the answer comes out: something you couldn't see or remember is suddenly clear.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ra-discover/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**realise, come up with, find out**

Pattern: `nhận / nghĩ / tìm / nhớ + ra (+ [object]) · không + [verb] + ra · [verb] + không ra (Saigon)`

Level: B1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

After verbs of thinking and searching, *ra* means the answer comes out: something you couldn't see or remember is suddenly clear. *Nhận ra* is "recognise" or "realise", *nghĩ ra* "think of, come up with", *nhớ ra* "remember (it's come back to me)", *tìm ra* "find out, discover", *hiểu ra* "finally understand". What you found comes after *ra*: *Bác sĩ chưa tìm ra nguyên nhân.* The doctors haven't found the cause yet.

For "can't", put *không* before the verb: *không nhận ra*, didn't recognise. In Saigon, *không* often goes between the two instead, as it does with *được*: *Em nhớ không ra.* I can't remember. *Nghĩ không ra*, I can't think of it.

This *ra* isn't movement. *Chạy ra* is "run out", but *nghĩ ra* goes nowhere: the idea comes out.

Compare the other "find" words. *Tìm thấy* is the usual word for finding a thing you were looking for, like your keys. *Tìm ra* is mostly for working out an answer, a cause or a way. *Tìm được* is managing to get something, like a job.

## Examples

- Lâu quá không gặp, em còn nhận ra chị không? — It's been so long. Do you still recognise me?
- Em nghĩ ra một cách rồi! — I've thought of a way!
- Saigon: Ông đó tên gì ta, em nhớ không ra. | Hà Nội: Ông ấy tên gì nhỉ, em không nhớ ra. — What's his name again? I can't remember.
- Bác sĩ chưa tìm ra nguyên nhân. — The doctors haven't found the cause yet.

## Compare

- [Verb + direction: chạy ra, mang về, đứng lên](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/v-direction-complement/): motion verb + direction
- [Seeing, hearing (the result): nhìn thấy, nghe thấy](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thay-sense-result/): perceive
- [Can, manage to: được after the verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-can-after-verb/): be able to

Previous in Là, có, and how verbs work together: [Did it by mistake: lỡ / trót + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lo-by-mistake/)
Next in Là, có, and how verbs work together: [I think he isn't …: không goes in the part after nghĩ là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/negation-in-subclause/)

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