Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Right (direction): Refers to the side that is opposite left, typically the side of the dominant hand.
   • Right (correct/just): Indicates something that is correct, proper, or morally just.
   • Right side (of material): Refers to the front, outer, or smoother side of a fabric or object.

2. Verb:

   • Must / Have to: Expresses obligation, necessity, or requirement.
   • To be affected by / To suffer: Indicates being subjected to, experiencing, or contracting something, often negative.

3. Particle:

   • Used in tag questions: Used at the end of a sentence to form a question tag, similar to "right?" or "isn't it?".
   • To affirm / Yes: Used to express agreement or affirmation, meaning "yes" or "correct".

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Direction):
  • Rẽ phải ở ngã tư. (Turn right at the intersection.)
• Adjective (Correct):
  • Làm như thế là phải. (Doing it that way is right.)
• Verb (Obligation):
  • Tôi phải hoàn thành bài tập. (I must finish the homework.)
• Verb (To be affected):
  • Nó phải một trận ốm nặng. (He contracted a serious illness.)
• Particle (Tag question):
  • Anh đi làm, phải không? (You go to work, right?)
• Particle (Affirmation):
  • "Đây là nhà của cô ấy?" – "Phải." ("Is this her house?" – "Yes.")

Advanced Usage

• "phải chi" / "giá phải": Expresses a wish or regret, meaning "if only".
  • Phải chi hôm qua trời không mưa. (If only it hadn't rained yesterday.)
• "phải lòng": To fall in love with someone.
  • Anh ấy đã phải lòng cô bạn cùng lớp. (He fell in love with his classmate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bên phải (n): The right side.
  • Hãy đứng sang bên phải. (Please stand on the right side.)
• Lẽ phải (n): Reason, what is right and just.
  • Hãy hành động theo lẽ phải. (Act according to reason.)

Synonyms

• Must / Have to: bắt buộc, cần.
• Right (correct): đúng, chính xác.
• Right (direction): hữu (formal, literary).

Related Idioms

• Vừa đôi phải lứa: A well-matched couple; perfectly suited for each other.
  • Họ quả là vừa đôi phải lứa. (They are truly a perfect match.)
• Nói phải củ cải cũng nghe: Said of reasoning so correct and persuasive that anyone would listen.
  • Anh ấy nói phải củ cải cũng nghe. (He speaks so reasonably that even a turnip would listen.)

adj

1. right
   • điều phải
     a right thing
   • cảm thán.
     all right
   • phải, anh về
     all right just go home

verb

1. must, should
   • phải làm tròn nhiệm vụ
     one must fulfil one's duty to be given to be affected by
   • phải bệnh
     to be affected by a disease