# A + thì + A + … nhưng: X it may be, but in Vietnamese

> Saying a word twice, with thì between, grants a point before you object to it, like "sure, it's …, but" or "… it may be, but": Đẹp thì đẹp thiệt, nhưng…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thi-thi-concessive/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**X it may be, but**

Pattern: `[A] + thì + [A] (thiệt / thật), nhưng (mà) + [B]`

Level: B1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: thi … nhung

Saying a word twice, with *thì* between, grants a point before you object to it, like "sure, it's …, but" or "… it may be, but": *Đẹp thì đẹp thiệt, nhưng mắc quá.* It's pretty, sure, but it's too expensive (in Hà Nội, *đẹp thật*, *đắt quá*).

The first half admits what is true, often what the other person has just said. The second, after *nhưng* or *nhưng mà*, is what counts for you. *Thiệt* (really; in Hà Nội, *thật*) after the repeated word makes the admission stronger, but is optional: *Gần thì gần, nhưng đường hay kẹt xe.* It's close, sure, but the road's always jammed.

The repeated word is usually a describing word, or a verb such as *thích* (like): *Thích thì thích, nhưng em không có tiền.* I like it, of course, but I haven't got the money.

You know *thì* after a topic, and *Đi thì đi!* on its own as a shrug: fine, let's go. Add *nhưng* and you agree with a condition: *Đi thì đi, nhưng em về sớm nha.*

*Mặc dù … nhưng* (although) states two facts evenly and suits writing too. *Có điều* weighs things the other way: *Đẹp đó, có điều hơi mắc* (in Hà Nội, *đắt*) still likes it, with one small catch. After *X thì X*, the objection wins.

## Examples

- Saigon: Đẹp thì đẹp thiệt, nhưng mắc quá. | Hà Nội: Đẹp thì đẹp thật, nhưng đắt quá. — It's pretty, sure, but it's too expensive.
- Thích thì thích, nhưng em không có tiền. — I like it, of course, but I haven't got the money.
- Saigon: Gần thì gần, nhưng đường hay kẹt xe. | Hà Nội: Gần thì gần, nhưng đường hay tắc. — It's close, sure, but the road's always jammed.
- Saigon: Đi thì đi, nhưng em về sớm nha. | Hà Nội: Đi thì đi, nhưng em về sớm nhé. — Fine, I'll come, but I'm leaving early.

## Compare

- [Although: mặc dù / tuy … nhưng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mac-du-although/): although
- [As for X: X + thì …](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thi-topic/): topic / contrast with thì
- [The only thing is: (chỉ) có điều (là)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-dieu-only-thing/): the only thing is, but

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