# bao giờ meaning in Vietnamese: when (A1)

> bao giờ means “when” in Vietnamese. It can also mean ever. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/bao-gio/ · Updated 2026-10-18

**bao giờ**: when · ever

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: bao gio

## 1. when (question word)

At the start of a question it asks about the future, at the end about the past. Saigon speakers more often say *khi nào*.

- Bao giờ anh về Việt Nam? — When are you going back to Vietnam?
- Saigon: Chị tới Sài Gòn bao giờ vậy? | Hà Nội: Chị đến Sài Gòn bao giờ thế? — When did you arrive in Saigon?

Also: [khi nào](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/khi-nao/#s_khi_nao).

Level: A1

Grammar: [When? bao giờ / khi nào: first for the future, last for the past](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bao-gio-when/)

## 2. ever (adverb)

*Chưa bao giờ* is never (so far): *em chưa bao giờ ăn sầu riêng*. *Đã bao giờ … chưa?* asks 'have you ever …?'

- Em chưa bao giờ ăn sầu riêng. — I've never eaten durian.
- Anh đã bao giờ đi Huế chưa? — Have you ever been to Huế?

Level: A2

Grammar: [Ever and never so far: … bao giờ chưa, chưa … bao giờ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chua-bao-gio-ever/)

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