Definition

1. Conjunction:
   • Owing to the fact that; The reason is that; It's because: Used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to introduce and explain the underlying reason, cause, or background situation for what is being discussed. It signals that the speaker is about to provide explanatory context.

Usage Examples

• Conjunction:
  • Số là tôi bị kẹt xe nên đến muộn. (Owing to the fact that I was stuck in traffic, I arrived late.)
  • Anh ấy không đến dự tiệc. Số là anh ấy bị ốm. (He didn't come to the party. The reason is that he was sick.)
  • Số là kinh tế khó khăn, công ty phải cắt giảm nhân sự. (It's because the economy is difficult, the company had to lay off staff.)

Advanced Usage

• Narrative Context: "Số là" is commonly used in storytelling or when recounting events to set the scene by providing crucial background information.
  • Số là hôm ấy trời mưa rất to, đường sá trơn trượt. (The thing is, it was raining heavily that day, and the roads were slippery.)
• Formal Explanation: While common in spoken narrative, it can be used in more formal writing or speech to preface a detailed causal explanation.
  • Dự án bị hoãn lại. Số là chúng tôi chưa nhận được giấy phép từ cơ quan chức năng. (The project was postponed. The fact is, we have not received the permit from the authorities yet.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bởi vì: Because. (A more standard and direct conjunction for "because".)
• Nguyên nhân là: The cause/reason is. (A more formal phrase to state a reason.)
• Lý do là: The reason is. (Similar to "nguyên nhân là", slightly more formal.)
• Vốn là: Originally/Inherently was. (Can be used to explain an original state or inherent quality that is the cause.)

Synonyms

• Bởi lẽ: For the reason that; Since. (Formal, literary.)
• Do: Due to; Because of. (Often used with nouns/noun phrases: - due to bad weather.)

Related Phrases

• Sự thật là: The truth/fact is. (Used to state a factual basis, which may imply a reason.)
• Chuyện là: The story/thing is. (A very colloquial phrase often used similarly to "số là" in informal storytelling.)

Notes on Usage

• Position: Typically used at the very beginning of an explanatory sentence or clause.
• Function: It does not merely state a cause but often introduces a narrative or explanatory background that the listener/reader may not be aware of. The clause following "số là" is the foundational reason for the main statement.
• Tone: Imparts a slightly narrative, explanatory, or justificatory tone. It is common in spoken Vietnamese and informal writing.

1. Owing to the fact that