Definition

1. Interjection:

   • Expressing surprise, realization, or sudden understanding: Used to convey a mild emotional reaction such as surprise, delight, or the moment of remembering something.
   • Expressing hesitation or a pause for thought: Used as a filler word while thinking or recalling information.

2. Particle (used at the end of a sentence):

   • Forming a question (tag question): Added to the end of a statement to turn it into a friendly, confirming, or rhetorical question, similar to "right?", "huh?", or "isn't it?".

Usage Examples

• Interjection:

  • À, đẹp tuyệt nhỉ! (Oh, that's absolutely beautiful!)
  • À, tôi nhớ ra rồi! (Ah, I remember now!)
  • À... để tôi suy nghĩ một chút. (Um... let me think for a moment.)

• Particle (question tag):

  • Anh đi à? (You're going, huh?)
  • Mới đó mà quên rồi à? (You've already forgotten, just like that?)
  • Cô ấy không thích nó à? (She doesn't like it, is that right?)

Advanced Usage

• "À mà" or "À này": Used to introduce an afterthought, change the subject, or get someone's attention, similar to "by the way" or "oh, and...".
  • À này, tên anh ta là gì? (Oh, by the way, what's his name?)
  • À mà, chúng ta có nên mua bánh không? (Oh, and should we buy some cake?)

Variants and Related Words

• À ơi (interjection): A soothing sound used in lullabies.

  • Mẹ hát "à ơi" cho em bé ngủ. (The mother sings a lullaby for the baby to sleep.)

• Ào ào (onomatopoeia/adverb): Describes a rushing, pouring, or bustling sound or action.

  • Mưa rơi ào ào. (The rain is pouring down.)
  • Mọi người vào phòng ào ào. (People rushed into the room noisily.)

Synonyms

• Interjection: Oh, ah, uh, aha.
• Particle (question): huh, right, isn't it, don't you.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• À lên: An exclamation of encouragement or urging someone to exert effort, similar to "Heave-ho!".

  • "À lên!" mọi người cùng hô để kéo cây. ("Heave-ho!" everyone shouted together to pull the tree.)

• Ừ à: To hem and haw; to speak hesitantly or non-committally.

  • Anh ấy chỉ ừ à cho qua chuyện. (He just gave vague answers to avoid the matter.)

excl

1. Oh! (exclamation of surprise)
   • à, đẹp tuyệt nhỉ!
     Oh, beautiful!
2. By the way
   • à này, tên anh ta là gì?
     by the way, what's his name?