# Trong trường hợp: in case / except where in Vietnamese

> Trong trường hợp (in the event that, in case of) sets a condition, the way rules and notices say "if": Trong trường hợp mất thẻ, khách hàng cần báo ngay…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/trong-truong-hop/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**in case / except where**

Pattern: `Trong trường hợp + [condition], [rule] · [rule], trừ trường hợp + [condition]`

Level: B2 (our estimate) · Register: formal

Typed without accents: trong truong hop, tru truong hop

*Trong trường hợp* (in the event that, in case of) sets a condition, the way rules and notices say "if": *Trong trường hợp mất thẻ, khách hàng cần báo ngay cho ngân hàng.* If you lose your card, notify the bank immediately. It's followed by a noun (*trong trường hợp khẩn cấp*, in an emergency) or a whole statement (*trong trường hợp trời mưa*, if it rains), and the rule comes after a comma. In laws, *trường hợp* alone often opens a sentence the same way, with *thì* before the rule.

Its partner *trừ trường hợp* (except where, unless) comes after the rule and names the exception: *Không được đỗ xe trên vỉa hè, trừ trường hợp có giấy phép.* No parking on the pavement, except with a permit. Regulations pair the two all the time.

Compare the everyday words. *Nếu … thì* is the plain "if". *Lỡ* is "in case something goes wrong": *Đem dù theo, lỡ mưa.* Take an umbrella in case it rains. In Hà Nội: *Mang ô đi, nhỡ mưa.* *Trừ* alone is the plain "except". *Trong trường hợp* is what these become in a contract, a law or an official notice.

*Trong trường hợp* is common in news and papers too: *trong trường hợp xấu nhất* (in the worst case). *Trừ trường hợp* is mainly legal. In conversation, *nếu* and *lỡ* are the natural choices.

## Examples

- Trong trường hợp khẩn cấp, hành khách sử dụng cửa thoát hiểm phía sau. — In an emergency, passengers should use the rear emergency exit.
- Trong trường hợp mất thẻ, khách hàng cần thông báo ngay cho ngân hàng. — If a card is lost, the customer must notify the bank immediately.
- Không được đỗ xe trên vỉa hè, trừ trường hợp được cơ quan có thẩm quyền cho phép. — Parking on the pavement is prohibited, except where permitted by the competent authority.
- Trong trường hợp xấu nhất, dự án có thể chậm thêm sáu tháng. — In the worst case, the project could be delayed by another six months.

## Compare

- [If … then: nếu … (thì)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/neu-thi-if/): if
- [In case (something goes wrong): lỡ / nhỡ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lo-in-case/): in case / what if
- [Except: trừ, ngoại trừ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tru-except/): except

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Next in News, official and academic writing: [It is necessary to (no subject): cần + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/can-impersonal/)

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