Vietnamese Buddy

vậy

softer question · like that · in that case · I suppose

A1 · estimate

Typed without accents: vay

Meanings

Highlighted words are what Saigon and Hà Nội say differently.

  1. softer question

    particle

    Goes at the end of a question with a question word (gì, đâu, ai, sao) to make it softer and friendlier. Without it, the question can sound abrupt.

    Makes a question softer: vậy in the South, thế in the North.

    In Hà Nội you say đấy.

    In Hà Nội you say thế.

    A1Saigon onlyGrammar: Softening a question: … vậy / thế?

  2. like that

    adverb

    so, like that

    In Hà Nội, thế.

    In Hà Nội you say thế.

    A2Grammar: Me too, so do I: cũng vậy / cũng thế

  3. in that case

    adverb

    then, in that case

    Opens a reply that draws a conclusion; also vậy thì. In Hà Nội, thế or thế thì.

    In Hà Nội you say thế.

    A1Grammar: In that case: vậy thì / thế thì

  4. I suppose

    particle

    At the end of a statement it means 'then, I suppose': you settle for something because your first choice isn't possible. Hà Nội uses it too.

    A2Grammar: (I'll do it) then: … vậy at the end

Join the waitlist

Vietnamese Buddy is invite-only for now. Leave your email and we’ll write to you when accounts open.

Already invited? Sign in

We email you once to confirm your address and once when accounts open — nothing else.