Definition

1. Adverb phrase:
   • Not at all: Used to strongly deny or refute a statement, assertion, or assumption. It expresses a complete negation, often with a tone of surprise or emphasis that the suggested idea is incorrect.

Usage

• "Đâu có" is used in informal, conversational Vietnamese to contradict something that has just been said. It is a common and emphatic way to say "no" or "that's not true."
• It typically stands alone as a response or is placed at the beginning of a sentence to negate the following clause.
• The phrase carries a nuance of slight disbelief or insistence, implying "How could that be?" or "That's absolutely not the case."

Usage Examples

• As a standalone response:

  • A: "Hôm qua cậu đi chơi phải không?" (Did you go out yesterday?) B: "Đâu có!" (Not at all! / No way!)
  • A: "Cái áo này đắt lắm nhỉ?" (This shirt is very expensive, right?) B: "Đâu có, rẻ thôi." (Not at all, it's cheap.)

• At the beginning of a sentence:

  • Đâu có chuyện lạ thế. (There is not such a strange story at all. / That's not a strange story at all.)
  • Đâu có ai nói gì đâu. (No one said anything at all.)
  • Đâu có khó như em nghĩ. (It's not at all difficult as you think.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đâu có... đâu": This structure reinforces the negation, placing "đâu có" at the beginning and "đâu" at the end of the clause.

  • Đâu có buồn đâu. (I'm not sad at all.)
  • Đâu có phải vậy đâu. (That's not the case at all.)

• "Đâu có phải": Used to deny that something is true or correct. It means "It's not that..." or "It's not the case that...".

  • Đâu có phải tôi quên. (It's not that I forgot.)
  • Đâu có phải lúc nào cũng dễ dàng. (It's not that it's always easy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đâu: A simpler negation particle meaning "not" or "no," often used in questions or negative statements. It is less emphatic than "đâu có."
  • Tôi đâu biết. (I didn't know.)
• Làm gì có: A synonymous phrase meaning "There's no way..." or "How could there be...". It is also used for strong denial.
  • Làm gì có chuyện đó. (There's no such thing.)

Synonyms

• Không hề: Not in the least; not at all (slightly more formal).
• Làm gì có: There's no way; how could there be.
• Làm sao có: How could there be (expressing disbelief).

Related Phrases

• Đâu có... đâu: A reinforced negative structure (see Advanced Usage).
• Đâu có được: Not possible; cannot be done.
  • Làm thế đâu có được. (Doing that is not possible.)

Related Idioms

• Đâu có vào đấy: An idiom meaning things are precise, accurate, or fitting perfectly. Note: This is a different, fixed idiom and does not carry the negative meaning of "đâu có."
  • Công việc tính toán đâu có vào đấy. (The calculations are precise and accurate.)

1. Not at all
   • Đâu có chuyện lạ thế
     There is not such a strange story at all