# Việc + verb: the act of …ing in Vietnamese (B1)

> Việc means "work" or "a matter". Before a verb, it turns the whole action into a noun, like English "-ing" in "finding a flat is hard": việc học tiếng…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/viec-nominal/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**the act of …ing**

Pattern: `việc + [verb phrase]`

Level: B1 (our estimate) · Register: formal

Typed without accents: viec

*Việc* means "work" or "a matter". Before a verb, it turns the whole action into a noun, like English "-ing" in "finding a flat is hard": *việc học tiếng Việt* (learning Vietnamese), *việc tìm nhà* (finding a place to live).

In speech, a verb can already be the subject on its own: *Học tiếng Việt không khó.* Learning Vietnamese isn't hard. *Việc* in front adds weight, and it's normal in writing, the news and at work: *Việc học tiếng Việt cần nhiều thời gian.* Learning Vietnamese takes a lot of time.

It's most useful after another verb or a preposition, where the action becomes the object: *Công ty đang xem xét việc tăng lương.* The company is considering raising salaries. *Anh ấy giỏi trong việc bán hàng.* He's good at selling.

*Việc* names a concrete action that someone does. *Sự* names a quality or a process, as an idea: *việc thay đổi giờ làm* (changing the working hours), *sự thay đổi* (change).

On its own, *việc* is also simply "a job" or "a task": *tìm việc* (look for work), *Em có việc bận.* I've got something on.

## Examples

- Việc học tiếng Việt cần nhiều thời gian. — Learning Vietnamese takes a lot of time.
- Việc tìm nhà ở Sài Gòn không dễ. — Finding a place to live in Saigon isn't easy.
- Anh ấy rất giỏi trong việc bán hàng. — He's very good at selling.
- Công ty đang xem xét việc tăng lương. — The company is considering raising salaries.

## Words in this pattern

- [việc](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/viec-matter/#s_viec_the_act_of): the act of

## Compare

- [Turning a verb or adjective into a noun: sự + word](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/su-nominal/): the … (abstract noun)
- [Doing X is …: a verb phrase as the subject, no 'to' or '-ing' (Học tiếng Việt khó)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/verb-subject/): verb as subject

Previous in How words are built: [Feelings as nouns: nỗi buồn, niềm vui](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/noi-niem-feeling-nouns/)
Next in How words are built: [Turning a verb or adjective into a noun: sự + word](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/su-nominal/)

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