So very …! Adj + ơi là + Adj

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.