# Có / không: short yes/no answers in Vietnamese (A1)

> A yes is usually said with a word taken from the question. Dạ, or ừ to friends, can signal yes to almost anything, but a full answer adds the right word.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/yes-no-answers/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**short yes/no answers**

Pattern: `Có. / Không. · [verb]. · Không, [person] + không + [verb]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: co, khong

A yes is usually said with a word taken from the question. *Dạ*, or *ừ* to friends, can signal yes to almost anything, but a full answer adds the right word. To a *có … không* question, yes is *có* and no is *không*: *Em có đói không?* *Có.* or *Không.*

Very often the answer repeats the verb or adjective instead, like "I do" or "I am" in English: *Em có đói không?* *Đói lắm.* Yes, I'm starving. *Em có thích phở không?* *Thích lắm.* Yes, I love it. This is the most natural short answer.

A full no says *không* twice, once as the answer and once before the verb: *Không, anh không uống.* No, I don't drink.

A bare *Có* or *Không* can sound curt. To someone older, start with *dạ*: *Dạ, có.* *Dạ, không.* To friends, *ừ* works for yes.

The yes word depends on the question. *Phải không?* is answered *phải* (very often *đúng rồi*) or *không phải*. *… chưa?* gets *rồi* or *chưa*. *Được không?* gets *được* or *không được*. When in doubt, repeat the verb or adjective: that usually fits.

## Examples

- Em có thích phở không? — Do you like phở?
- Dạ, thích lắm. — Yes, I love it.
- Anh có uống bia không? — Do you drink beer?
- Không, anh không uống. — No, I don't.

## Words in this pattern

- [có](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/co-have/#s_co_yes): yes (reply)
- [không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/khong-no/#lx_khong): no, not

## Compare

- [Polite yes dạ / vâng, casual yes ừ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/da-vang-yes/): yes (polite or casual)
- [Is not (a noun): không phải là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-phai-la/): is not

Previous in Asking questions: [And you? Còn …?](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/con-and-you/)
Next in Asking questions: [Asking about là-sentences: có phải (là) … không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-phai-khong/)

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