Really? … sao at the end

Sao at the end of a statement shows surprise or disbelief, like "really?" or "you mean …?": Anh không biết sao? You didn't know? Hết vé rồi sao? The tickets are all gone? You expected something else and want the other person to confirm it.

It's close to hả and à, which you know for checking what you've just heard. Sao is a little stronger and more serious, and often carries disappointment: Em không đi với tụi chị sao? You're not coming with us? Hả stays the more everyday choice in Saigon. On its own, Vậy sao? means "Is that so?" (in Hà Nội, Thế à?).

Watch the place. After a complete statement, sao is this surprised "really?". After a verb that still needs its answer, it asks "how": Anh thấy sao? What do you think? At the start of a sentence, it asks "why": Sao em không đi?

To answer, confirm with dạ, ừ or thật mà (honestly), or put things right.