Definition

1. Interjection:
   • Alas, oh no, oh dear: An exclamation expressing sudden sadness, disappointment, regret, or dismay upon realizing an unfortunate situation or outcome.

Usage Examples

• Interjection:
  • Ôi thôi! Bao nhiêu công của thế là mất đứt! (Alas! All that property and labor is completely lost!)
  • Ôi thôi! Thế là hỏng hết rồi! (Oh no! Everything is ruined now!)
  • Ôi thôi, tôi quên mất chìa khóa ở nhà rồi. (Oh dear, I forgot my keys at home.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ôi thôi rồi": An intensified form expressing a stronger sense of dismay or a realization that things have taken a turn for the worse.
  • Ôi thôi rồi, mưa to quá, đường về chắc ngập hết. (Oh no, it's raining too hard; the way home must be flooded.)
• "Ôi thôi chết (rồi)": A common colloquial variant expressing panic, a serious mistake, or a dire situation.
  • Ôi thôi chết, tôi để quên điện thoại trên taxi. (Oh no, I left my phone in the taxi.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ôi (interj): A more general exclamation of emotion, which can express surprise, pain, pity, or admiration depending on context. "Ôi thôi" is a specific, lamenting derivation.
• Thôi (interj/verb): As an interjection, it means "enough", "stop", or "let it be". In "ôi thôi", it combines with "ôi" to convey a sense of resignation ("that's it, it's over").
• Than ôi (interj, literary): A literary synonym, also meaning "alas".

Synonyms

• Than ôi: Alas (more formal/literary).
• Trời ơi: Oh my god/heavens (can express a wider range of emotions including shock, surprise, or complaint, not solely disappointment).
• Hỡi ơi: Woe is me, alas (expresses sorrow or lament).

Related Phrases

• "Ôi thôi thế là xong": That's it, it's all over.
  • Ôi thôi thế là xong, hạn nộp bài là hôm qua. (Oh no, that's it, the assignment deadline was yesterday.)
• "Ôi thôi đừng nói nữa": Oh, please don't say any more (expressing regret or not wanting to hear bad news).
  • Ôi thôi đừng nói nữa, nghe mà chán. (Oh, please don't say any more; it's disheartening to hear.)

Related Idioms

• "Ôi thôi đành vậy": An expression of reluctant acceptance or resignation to an unfortunate situation.
  • Ôi thôi đành vậy, không còn cách nào khác. (Oh well, it can't be helped; there's no other way.)

1. Alas
   • Ôi thôi! Bao nhiêu công của thế là mất đứt!
     Alas! That was a clean loss of so much property and labour!