Definition

1. Particle:
   • A sentence-final particle used to seek agreement, confirmation, or shared feeling: "nhỉ" is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question that invites the listener's confirmation, agreement, or shared opinion. It functions similarly to English question tags like "isn't it?", "don't you?", "right?", or "don't you think?".
   • A particle used after a second-person pronoun to politely seek the listener's concurrence: When placed after a term of address (e.g., anh, chị, em), "nhỉ" softens the request for agreement, making it more polite and conversational.

Usage Examples

• Seeking general agreement/confirmation: (The weather is hot today, isn't it?) (She sings well, doesn't she?)
• Seeking shared feeling or opinion: (It's sad, isn't it? / How sad, right?) (The scenery is beautiful, don't you think?)
• Used with a term of address for polite concurrence: (This task is so difficult, don't you agree? [lit., ...isn't it, brother?]) (We should go early, don't you think, sister?)

Advanced Usage

• "nhỉ" vs. "nhé": While both are sentence-final particles, "nhỉ" seeks agreement or confirmation about a shared observation or feeling. "Nhé" is used to seek the listener's promise or compliance (e.g., - Let's meet at 8, okay?).
• Implied shared context: Using "nhỉ" often implies that the speaker believes the listener has the same information or is experiencing the same situation. It creates a sense of camaraderie. (It's quiet here, isn't it? [Implying we are both here experiencing the quiet])

Variants and Related Words

• Nhở (ph.): A more informal, Northern Vietnamese variant of "nhỉ," used similarly among close friends or peers. (It's cold, innit?)
• Hả (ph.): A more general question particle meaning "huh?" or "really?". It can sometimes be used like "nhỉ" but is broader and can seek simple confirmation of information, not necessarily shared feeling. (You're going to work, huh?)

Synonyms

• Phải không?: The standard way to form a yes/no question tag, meaning "right?" or "isn't it?". It is more direct and neutral than the conversational and feeling-oriented "nhỉ."
• Đúng không?: Similar to "phải không?", meaning "correct or not?".

Related Phrases / Idioms

• "..., ... nhỉ?": This is the standard structure. The particle "nhỉ" is typically not used to start a sentence but is attached to the end of a statement to form the tag question. (It's been a long time no see, hasn't it?)

1. Inn't it, doesn't it..
   • Vui nhỉ
     It is jolly, isn't it?
   • Đánh bóng bàn giỏi nhỉ?
     You play table tennis well, don't you?
2. Don't you think so
   • Phim này hay đấy nhỉ
     This film is quite good, don't you think so