Vietnamese Verb "nghe" — to hear / to listen

nghe

to hear / to listen

Type

Perception verb

Patterns

6 tense/aspect forms

Simple / Bare Verb

The bare verb with no marker. Context determines whether it refers to present, past, or habitual action.

Simple statement

Structure: Subject + nghe

Tôi nghe.

I hear / I heard.

Past / Completed (đã)

The marker "đã" before the verb explicitly marks a completed action or past event.

Completed marker: đã

Structure: Subject + đã + nghe

Tôi đã nghe.

I heard / I have heard.

Progressive (đang)

The marker "đang" expresses an action currently in progress.

Progressive marker: đang

Structure: Subject + đang + nghe

Tôi đang nghe.

I am listening.

Future (sẽ)

The marker "sẽ" expresses a future action or intention.

Future marker: sẽ

Structure: Subject + sẽ + nghe

Tôi sẽ nghe.

I will listen.

Negative (không / chưa)

"Không" negates the verb generally. "Chưa" means "not yet" — implying the action may happen later.

Negative marker: không

Structure: Subject + không + nghe

Tôi không nghe thấy.

I didn't hear / I can't hear.

Not yet marker: chưa

Structure: Subject + chưa + nghe

Tôi chưa nghe tin đó.

I haven't heard that news yet.

Experience / Other (đã từng / vẫn)

"Đã từng" marks past experience ("have ever done"). "Vẫn" means "still" for ongoing states.

Experience marker: đã từng

Structure: Subject + đã từng + nghe

Bạn đã từng nghe bài hát này chưa?

Have you ever heard this song?

Example Sentences

Bạn có nghe không?

Did you hear?

Tôi đang nghe nhạc.

I am listening to music.

Nghe tôi nói!

Listen to me!