Definition

1. Adverb phrase:
   • What is the use of? / What is the good of?: Used to question the necessity, purpose, or value of doing something, implying that the action is pointless or unnecessary.
   • There's no need to / It's not necessary to: Expresses that a particular action is not required or is superfluous.

Usage Examples

• As an adverb phrase:
  • Hà tất phải lo lắng nhiều như vậy? (What is the use of worrying so much? / There's no need to worry so much.)
  • Hà tất anh phải đi đường xa? (What is the good of you traveling such a long distance? / It's not necessary for you to travel so far.)
  • Cứ bình tĩnh, hà tất vội vàng. (Stay calm, there's no need to rush.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hà tất... cho...": A more formal or literary structure to emphasize the pointlessness for a specific reason or person.

  • Hà tất phiền phức cho mọi người như thế? (What is the use of causing trouble for everyone like that?)

• Used in rhetorical questions to strongly suggest that an action is futile or should be avoided.

  • Hà tất phải tranh cãi chuyện nhỏ nhặt ấy? (Why bother arguing over such a trivial matter?)

Variants and Related Words

• Cần gì: Similar meaning of "What's the need?" or "Why bother?". It is more common in modern spoken Vietnamese.

  • Cần gì phải nói nhiều. (There's no need to say so much.)

• Tất cả: This is a different word meaning "all" or "every". Do not confuse with hà tất.

Synonyms

• Có cần gì: Is there any need?
• Đâu cần: No need (to).
• Cần chi (literary/poetic): For what purpose? / Why the need?

Related Phrases

• Hà tất phải...: The most common structure, meaning "There's no need to..." or "Why must...?".

  • Hà tất phải làm việc đó ngay bây giờ? (Why must that be done right now?)

• Hà tất đâu: A shortened, sometimes more emphatic form.

  • Anh cứ nghỉ ngơi đi, hà tất đâu. (You should rest, there's really no need [to do otherwise].)

Related Idioms

• Hà tất lao tâm khổ tứ: An idiom meaning "Why trouble your mind and torment your thoughts?" or "There's no need to fret and strain yourself."
  • Chuyện nhỏ thôi, hà tất lao tâm khổ tứ. (It's just a small matter, there's no need to fret and strain yourself.)

1. What is the use of?, What is the good of?