Vietnamese particle 'thôi' usage (Only / Enough / Let's)
'thôi' can limit something to a certain extent, indicate stopping or giving up, or gently suggest something.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'thôi' can limit something to a certain extent, indicate stopping or giving up, or gently suggest something.
English meanings
- Only
- Enough
- Let's
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
I'm just looking.
2
Về nhà thôi.
Let's go home.
How to use it
'thôi' essentially means 'that's all' or 'stop here'. It can mean 'only' in affirmative sentences, or 'enough'/'let's stop' in others.
- 'chỉ ... thôi' means 'just ... only'.
- Verb phrase + 'thôi' can suggest stopping or making a proposal.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English words like 'only', 'enough', or 'let's' seem different but 'thôi' relates to limitation or ending in all cases.
Common mistakes
Tôi thôi chỉ xem.
Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
'chỉ ... thôi' is a common pattern; 'thôi' goes at the end.
Tôi rất thích thôi món này.
Tôi chỉ thích món này thôi.
'thôi' does not go before the noun it limits.
Commonly confused grammar
No closely confused forms are listed for this point.
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'thôi'?
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Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses 'thôi'?
- Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
- Tôi thôi chỉ xem.
- Tôi rất thích thôi món này.
Answer: Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
Explanation: 'chỉ ... thôi' means 'just ... only'.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi chỉ xem ____.
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Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi chỉ xem ____.
Answer: Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
Explanation: 'chỉ ... thôi' means 'just ... only'.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I'm just looking." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I'm just looking." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
Explanation: Use thôi in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? 'Tôi thôi chỉ xem.'
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True or false
Is this sentence correct? 'Tôi thôi chỉ xem.'
Answer: False
Explanation: 'chỉ ... thôi' is a common pattern; 'thôi' goes at the end.
Correction
Correct the unnatural placement of 'thôi' in this sentence.
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Correction
Correct the unnatural placement of 'thôi' in this sentence.
Answer: Tôi chỉ xem thôi.
Explanation: 'thôi' as a sentence-final particle usually goes at the end of the whole sentence or intonation unit.