Definition

1. Imperative phrase:
   • "Don't mind it/that/them": A phrase used to tell someone to ignore something or someone, to not pay attention to a situation, or to not let something bother them. It conveys a sense of dismissal or advises against caring about a particular matter.
   • "So much the worse for...": Used to express indifference or a slight, sometimes callous, acceptance of an unfortunate situation for someone else, implying they deserve it or that it's their own problem.

Usage Examples

• As a dismissive instruction:
  • Chớ kệ nó đi mà. (Don't mind him/her; just ignore him/her.)
  • Chớ kệ chuyện đó đi. (Don't worry about that matter; just let it go.)
• Expressing indifferent acceptance of another's misfortune:
  • Nó không nghe lời thì chớ kệ nó. (If he/she doesn't listen, then so much the worse for him/her.)
  • Họ muốn thế thì chớ kệ họ. (If they want it that way, then let them be / that's their problem.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chớ kệ" is often used in spoken Vietnamese and can carry a tone ranging from casual advice to blunt indifference. The level of harshness depends on context and intonation.
• It can be used to end a discussion about a bothersome topic, signaling that further attention is not warranted.

Variants and Related Words

• Kệ (verb): To ignore, to not care about. "Chớ" is an imperative/negative particle adding a stronger, more direct command.
  • Kệ nó đi! (Just ignore him/her!)
• Mặc kệ (verb phrase): A synonym meaning to disregard, to leave someone/something to their own devices.
  • Mặc kệ nó. (Leave him/her be; ignore him/her.)
• Đừng quan tâm (phrase): A more neutral way to say "don't pay attention" or "don't care about."

Synonyms

• Mặc kệ: To disregard, to ignore.
• Đừng bận tâm: Don't bother, don't be concerned.
• Bỏ qua: To overlook, to let it pass.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chớ kệ nó/điều đó: The most common construction, where "nó" (it/him/her) or "điều đó" (that thing) is the object being dismissed.

Related Idioms

• Chớ kệ xác: A more vulgar and emphatic variant, adding "xác" (corpse/body) for stronger dismissive effect, roughly meaning "to hell with it/them."
  • Chớ kệ xác nó! (To hell with him/her!)
• Kệ đời: A casual phrase meaning "who cares" or "whatever," expressing personal indifference to life's situations.
  • Kệ đời, tôi không quan tâm nữa. (Whatever, I don't care anymore.)