# Ơi là: so so …! in Vietnamese (B2)

> Say an adjective, then ơi là, then the same adjective again, and you get a heartfelt exclamation: Mệt ơi là mệt! (So, so tired!) Cái áo này đẹp ơi là đẹp!

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/oi-la/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**so so …!**

Pattern: `[adjective] + ơi là + [adjective]!`

Level: B2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday · Medium: spoken

Typed without accents: oi la

Situations: [Messages and social media](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?use=texting)

Say an adjective, then *ơi là*, then the same adjective again, and you get a heartfelt exclamation: *Mệt ơi là mệt!* (So, so tired!) *Cái áo này đẹp ơi là đẹp!* (This top is just gorgeous!) *Ơi* is the word you use to call out to someone, so it sounds as if you're calling out to the feeling itself.

It goes at the end of the sentence, or stands alone as a reaction: *Buồn ơi là buồn!* (So sad!) It works with adjectives and a few feeling verbs: *nhớ ơi là nhớ* (miss it so much), *thương ơi là thương* (so dear).

It's warm, a little playful and very spoken. You'll hear it from parents to children, in songs, on social media and among friends. It isn't for writing or formal situations.

In Saigon, the everyday way to say the same thing is *quá trời* after the adjective: *Mệt quá trời!* *Đẹp quá trời!* *Ơi là* is understood everywhere and heard in the South too, but it can sound a little cute. If you're unsure, *quá trời* is the safe choice in Saigon.

Compare plain *quá* (*Đẹp quá!*), the ordinary reaction. Repeating the word with *ơi là* adds extra feeling, a bit like "so, so" in English.

## Examples

- Làm cả ngày, mệt ơi là mệt! — I've worked all day, I'm so, so tired!
- Con bé nhà chị dễ thương ơi là dễ thương! — Your little girl is just so adorable!
- Trời ơi, nóng ơi là nóng! — Oh my, it's so, so hot!
- Saigon: Xa nhà lâu vậy, nhớ ba mẹ ơi là nhớ. | Hà Nội: Xa nhà lâu thế, nhớ bố mẹ ơi là nhớ. — Being away from home this long, I miss my mum and dad so much.

## Compare

- [Really so …!: adjective + quá trời, quá chừng, ghê](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/exclaim-intensifiers/): so very …!

Previous in Words at the start and end of a sentence: [Running into something bad: verb + phải](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-bad-luck/)

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