Definition

1. Interjection:
   • An emphatic particle: "chứ lại" is used to add strong emphasis, often expressing surprise, insistence, or a rhetorical challenge. It reinforces the preceding statement or question.
   • An exclamation (somewhat archaic/regional): It can function like "indeed!", "well then!", or "I tell you!", used to stress a point or emotion.

Usage Examples

• Interjection:
  • Mày phải giúp đỡ nó, chứ lại! (You must help him, I tell you! / You really must help him!)
  • Đẹp quá, chứ lại! (It's so beautiful, indeed!)
  • Không được, chứ lại! (It's not allowed, I say!)

Advanced Usage Notes

• Register and Tone: "Chứ lại" is considered informal and can carry a folksy, emphatic, or even slightly confrontational tone depending on context. It is more common in spoken Vietnamese, particularly in certain dialects or older speech patterns.
• Position in Sentence: It typically appears at the end of a clause or sentence to add final emphasis.
• Nuance: It often implies that the speaker believes the point should be obvious or non-negotiable, adding a layer of insistence or strong feeling.

Variants and Related Words

• Chứ lị: A direct variant with identical meaning and usage. "Chứ lại" is noted as being the same as "chứ lị".
• Chứ: A more common and versatile particle meaning "or", "but", "then", or used in rhetorical questions. "Chứ lại" adds a stronger exclamatory force than the simple "chứ".
• Nhá / nhé: Common sentence-final particles for emphasis or seeking agreement (e.g., "okay?", "alright?"), but they are softer and more collaborative than the insistent "chứ lại".

Synonyms (English Equivalents)

• I tell you!: Conveys insistence.
• Indeed!: Conveys affirmation or surprise.
• Well then!: Conveys a prompting or challenging tone.
• For sure!: Conveys strong agreement or emphasis.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• "Chứ lại" does not commonly form part of larger idiomatic expressions. Its function is primarily as a standalone emphatic interjection attached to a statement.

1. Như chứ lị