# Chứ: surely …, aren't you? in Vietnamese (A1)

> Put chứ at the end of a statement when you're fairly sure the answer is yes and just want it confirmed: Mai em đi chứ? You're coming tomorrow, right?

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chu-question/ · Updated 2026-11-09

**surely …, aren't you?**

Pattern: `[statement] + chứ?`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday · Medium: spoken

Typed without accents: chu

Put *chứ* at the end of a statement when you're fairly sure the answer is yes and just want it confirmed: *Mai em đi chứ?* You're coming tomorrow, right? It sounds warm and a little insistent, like "…, of course?" or "…, I hope?"

It's often used to check on someone or on a plan: *Anh vẫn khỏe chứ?* You're keeping well, I hope? *Em ăn cay được chứ?* You can eat spicy food, can't you? In Saigon it's often said *chớ*.

The answer usually repeats the verb, often with *chứ* again: *Dạ, đi chứ.* Of course I'm coming. If the answer is no, say it gently: *Dạ, chắc em không đi được.* I'm afraid I can't make it.

Compare the other checking words. *Có … không* asks openly, with no guess. *Phải không* checks a guess calmly. *Hả* and *à* react to something you've just heard. *Chứ* assumes yes, so don't use it when you really don't know: it can sound as if you're pushing.

As an answer on its own, *Có chứ!* means "Of course!"

Inside a sentence, *chứ không* means "and not, rather than", with no question at all: *Em uống trà chứ không uống cà phê.* I drink tea, not coffee.

## Examples

- Mai em đi chứ? — You're coming tomorrow, right?
- Dạ, đi chứ. — Of course I am.
- Anh vẫn khỏe chứ? — You're keeping well, I hope?
- Em ăn cay được chứ? — You can eat spicy food, can't you?

## Words in this pattern

- [chứ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/chu-of-course/#s_chu_surely_question_ending): expecting yes

## Compare

- [Of course! … chứ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chu-of-course/): of course
- [Double-checking what you just heard: hả / à](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/a-ha-check/): …, huh? / so …?
- [Checking a statement: …, phải không?](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-khong-tag/): …, right?
- [Who else? Of course! … chứ ai, chứ gì, chứ sao](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chu-ai-who-else/): who else, what else, of course

Previous in Asking questions: [Double-checking what you just heard: hả / à](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/a-ha-check/)
Next in Asking questions: [For how long so far: … (bao lâu) rồi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duration-roi/)

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