# Rất: very in Vietnamese (A1)

> Rất means "very", and it goes before the adjective: rất ngon (very tasty), rất nóng (very hot).

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/rat-very/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**very**

Pattern: `rất + [adjective or feeling verb]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: rat

*Rất* means "very", and it goes before the adjective: *rất ngon* (very tasty), *rất nóng* (very hot). It also goes before words for feelings: *rất thích* (really like), *rất nhớ* (really miss). As with any adjective, there's no *là*: *Phở ở đây rất ngon.*

*Rất* is the neutral choice and fits everywhere, in writing as well as speech. In relaxed conversation people often prefer *lắm* after the adjective (*ngon lắm*), which means the same and sounds warmer, or *quá* after it (*ngon quá!*) when they're reacting to something in the moment. In speech you'll also hear *rất là ngon*, which is a touch more emphatic.

There are two places where *rất* doesn't go: right after *không*, and inside a *có … không?* question. For "not very", put *lắm* at the end: *Món này không cay lắm.* To ask "Is it very spicy?", say *Có cay lắm không?*

One set phrase with *rất* you'll use from the first day: *Rất vui được gặp anh*, nice to meet you.

## A common mistake

✗ Món này không rất cay.

✓ Món này không cay lắm.

*Rất* can't follow *không*. For "not very", put *không* before the adjective and *lắm* after it.

## Examples

- Phở ở đây rất ngon. — The phở here is very good.
- Tôi rất thích Sài Gòn. — I really like Saigon.
- Hôm nay trời rất nóng. — It's very hot today.
- Món này không cay lắm. — This dish isn't very spicy.
- Rất vui được gặp anh. — Nice to meet you.

## Words in this pattern

- [rất](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/rat-very/#lx_rat): very

## Compare

- [Very (spoken): lắm after the adjective](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lam-very/): very, really
- [So …! and too …: quá after or before](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/qua-so/): so … ! / too …
- [Not very: không … lắm](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-lam-not-very/): not very

Previous in How much, and comparing: [Very (spoken): lắm after the adjective](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lam-very/)
Next in How much, and comparing: [Another, different: khác, khác nhau](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khac-other/)

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