hà cớ

Hà cớ gì mà cô ấy buồn đến vậy?

Definition

1. Interrogative phrase:
   • Why, for what reason: "hà cớ" is a literary and somewhat archaic interrogative phrase used to ask about the reason or cause for something. It expresses inquiry into the motivation or justification behind an action or situation.

Usage Examples

• Interrogative phrase:
  • Anh hà cớ lại từ chối lời mời ấy? (Why did you refuse that invitation?)
  • Hà cớ gì mà cô ấy buồn đến vậy? (For what reason is she so sad?)

Advanced Usage

• "hà cớ chi": An even more literary variant that intensifies the question, meaning "for what reason at all" or "why ever".
  • Người ấy hà cớ chi phải lo lắng? (Why ever should that person worry?)

Variants and Related Words

• Cớ sao (interrogative phrase): Why, for what reason. A more common literary synonym.
  • Cớ sao anh không đến? (Why didn't you come?)
• Tại sao (interrogative phrase): Why. The standard, modern equivalent.
  • Tại sao trời mưa? (Why is it raining?)
• Vì lẽ gì (interrogative phrase): For what reason. Another formal synonym.

Synonyms

• Vì sao: Why.
• Làm sao: How come (often used to ask "why" in a surprised tone).

Notes on Usage

• Register: "Hà cớ" belongs to a formal, literary, and somewhat archaic register. It is rarely used in everyday spoken Vietnamese but may appear in classical literature, formal writing, or poetic contexts.
• Structure: It is typically placed at the beginning of a question or before the main verb phrase to inquire about a reason.