Vietnamese Particle mà Usage (you know / since / reason tone)
Mà at the end or middle of a sentence can convey a tone similar to "you know" or "since."
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
Mà at the end or middle of a sentence can convey a tone similar to "you know" or "since."
English meanings
- particle expressing obviousness
- since
- giving a reason or reminder tone
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
I've already told you, you know.
2
Bạn biết chuyện này mà.
You know about this, after all.
How to use it
In spoken Vietnamese, mà is used to add a reason, remind the listener of known information, or soften a statement. Its tone is close to the English "you know" or "after all." This usage differs from the contrasting mà or the relative clause mà.
- Common in spoken language.
- Indicates a reminder, explanation, or mild rebuttal.
- Do not confuse with the contrasting conjunction nhưng.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English uses phrases like "you know," "after all," or "since" to add a reason or remind someone. Vietnamese uses mà similarly as a particle to convey this nuance in informal speech.
Common mistakes
Tôi đã nói rồi nhưng.
Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
Use mà at the end of a sentence to express a reminder tone, not nhưng.
Bạn biết mà chuyện này.
Bạn biết chuyện này mà.
The particle mà in this usage usually appears at the end of the sentence.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses mà?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses mà?
- Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
- Tôi đã nói rồi nhưng.
- Bạn biết mà chuyện này.
Answer: Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
Explanation: Common in spoken language.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi đã nói rồi ____.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi đã nói rồi ____.
Answer: Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
Explanation: Common in spoken language.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I've already told you, you know." into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I've already told you, you know." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
Explanation: Use mà in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi đã nói rồi nhưng.
Show answer
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi đã nói rồi nhưng.
Answer: False
Explanation: Use mà at the end of a sentence to express a reminder tone, not nhưng.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi đã nói rồi nhưng.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi đã nói rồi nhưng.
Answer: Tôi đã nói rồi mà.
Explanation: Use mà at the end of a sentence to express a reminder tone, not nhưng.