Definition

1. Noun:
   • Question mark: The primary meaning refers to the punctuation mark "?" used at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question.
   • The "hỏi" tone diacritic: In the Vietnamese alphabet, "dấu hỏi" is the name of a diacritical mark ( ̉ ) placed on vowels to denote the "hỏi" (falling-rising, glottalized) tone. For example: hỏi, để, thủy.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Punctuation):
  • Cuối câu nghi vấn thường có dấu hỏi. (An interrogative sentence usually ends with a question mark.)
  • Anh ấy viết thư mà quên đặt dấu hỏi ở cuối câu. (He wrote a letter but forgot to put a question mark at the end of the sentence.)
• Noun (Tone Mark):
  • Chữ "hỏi" phải có dấu hỏi trên chữ "o". (The word "hỏi" must have the "hỏi" tone mark on the letter "o".)
  • Trong tiếng Việt, dấu hỏi biểu thị thanh hỏi. (In Vietnamese, the "hỏi" mark indicates the hỏi tone.)

Advanced Usage

• Implied Uncertainty: In informal writing (e.g., online chats), a standalone "dấu hỏi" can symbolize confusion or a rhetorical question.
  • Cô ấy nói vậy thật à? Dấu hỏi. (Did she really say that? Question mark.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chấm hỏi: A direct synonym for "dấu hỏi" when referring to the punctuation mark (?). It literally means "question dot."
• Dấu: A general term for any diacritical mark or accent in Vietnamese (e.g., ).
• Thanh hỏi: Refers specifically to the tonal quality (the falling-rising tone) represented by the mark.

Synonyms

• (For punctuation): Question mark, interrogation point.
• (For the tone): The "hỏi" tone mark, falling-rising tone diacritic.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Đặt một dấu hỏi lớn: To raise a big question, to cast serious doubt on something.
  • Phát hiện mới đặt một dấu hỏi lớn cho giả thuyết cũ. (The new discovery raises a big question mark over the old hypothesis.)

1. xem chấm hỏi
2. Falling accent