thế

Meanings

1. softer question

   particle

   In Hà Nội, it goes at the end of a question with a question word to make it softer and friendlier. Saigon says vậy.

   • Em tên gì thế?

     What's your name?

   • Sao thế?

     What's wrong?

   Also: đấy.

   In Saigon you say vậy.

   A1Hà Nội onlyto recognizeGrammar: Softening a question: … vậy / thế?

2. like that

   adverb

   so, like that

   Northern; in Saigon, vậy.

   • Tôi cũng thế.

     Same here.

   • Đừng làm thế.

     Don't do that.

   Said everywhere: vậy.

   A2Hà Nội onlyto recognizeGrammar: Me too, so do I: cũng vậy / cũng thế

3. so

   conjunction

   so, well then

   Opens a sentence or a question, picking up what was just said. In Saigon, vậy.

   • Thế anh có đi không?

     So are you going or not?

   • Thế mai gặp nhé.

     See you tomorrow, then.

   Said everywhere: vậy.

   A2Hà Nội onlyto recognizeGrammar: In that case: vậy thì / thế thì