may thay
Definition
- Adverb:
- Fortunately / Luckily: Expresses relief or positive sentiment about a situation that has turned out well, often by chance or good fortune. It is used to introduce a favorable circumstance that averts a negative outcome.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Trời mưa to, may thay tôi đã mang theo ô. (It was raining heavily; fortunately, I had brought an umbrella.)
- Anh ấy bị ngã xe nhưng may thay chỉ bị xây xát nhẹ. (He had a bike accident but luckily only suffered minor scratches.)
- May thay, chúng tôi đã kịp đến sân bay trước khi máy bay cất cánh. (Fortunately, we arrived at the airport just before the plane took off.)
Advanced Usage
- Used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to frame the entire statement with a tone of relief. It often contrasts a preceding or implied problematic situation with the positive outcome that followed.
Variants and Related Words
- May mắn (adj, n): Lucky, good fortune.
- Chúng tôi rất may mắn khi tìm thấy chìa khóa. (We were very lucky to find the key.)
- Thật may (interjection): How lucky! (A more colloquial interjection).
- Thật may, còn một vé cuối cùng! (How lucky, there's one last ticket!)
Synonyms
- Fortunately: Used to express that something good has happened, especially by chance, preventing something bad.
- Luckily: By good luck; fortunately.
- Thankfully: Used to express relief or gratitude about a situation.
Related Idioms
- May thay hồn: A more emphatic or dramatic expression of relief, similar to "Thank goodness!" or "What a relief!"
- Xe của tôi hỏng giữa đường, may thay hồn có anh ấy đi ngang qua giúp đỡ. (My car broke down on the road; thank goodness he happened to pass by and help.)