may sao
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- Fortunately / Luckily: Expresses relief that a potentially negative situation was avoided or a positive outcome occurred unexpectedly. It is used to introduce a statement about a fortunate turn of events.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- May sao tàu chưa chạy. (Fortunately, the train hadn't left yet.)
- May sao anh ấy đã hiểu tôi. (Luckily, he understood me.)
- May sao hôm qua trời không mưa. (Fortunately, it didn't rain yesterday.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used at the beginning of a sentence to set the context of relief. It can be followed by a clause explaining the fortunate circumstance.
- May sao chúng tôi đến kịp giờ. (Luckily, we arrived on time.)
Variants and Related Words
May mắn (adj): lucky, fortunate.
- Cô ấy là một người rất may mắn. (She is a very lucky person.)
Thật may (phr): It's really lucky.
- Thật may là tôi đã mang theo ô. (It's really lucky that I brought an umbrella.)
Synonyms
- Fortunately: by good luck.
- Luckily: in a lucky manner.
- Thankfully: used to express relief or gratitude.
- By good fortune: as a result of good luck.
Related Idioms
May mà: A more colloquial, shortened form with the same meaning as "may sao."
- May mà có bạn ở đây. (Good thing you are here.)
Trời còn thương: Literally "heaven still shows mercy," expressing a similar sentiment of relief.
- Trời còn thương nên anh ấy vẫn an toàn. (By heaven's mercy, he is still safe.)