Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Gently, softly, quietly: "sẽ" can indicate an action performed in a gentle, soft, or quiet manner.
   • Will, shall, be going to: "sẽ" is used to express that an event or action will occur in the future relative to the time of speaking or a reference point in the past. It indicates intention, prediction, or future certainty.
   • Would, should: In conditional or hypothetical contexts, "sẽ" can express what would or should happen under certain circumstances.

Usage Examples

• Adverb (Gently):

  • Cô ấy nói sẽ để không làm phiền ai. (She spoke softly so as not to disturb anyone.)
  • Đứa trẻ bước đi sẽ trên sàn gỗ. (The child walked gently on the wooden floor.)

• Adverb (Future tense marker):

  • Ngày mai tôi sẽ đi làm sớm. (I will go to work early tomorrow.)
  • Chúng tôi tin rằng mọi chuyện sẽ ổn. (We believe everything will be fine.)
  • Anh ấy đã hứa là sẽ gọi điện cho tôi. (He promised that he would call me.)

Advanced Usage

• In reported speech or past-future contexts: Used to indicate a future event from a past point of view.

  • Cô ấy nói cô ấy sẽ đến. (She said she would come.)

• In conditional sentences ("if" clauses): Used in the main clause to express a hypothetical result.

  • Nếu trời mưa, chúng ta sẽ ở nhà. (If it rains, we will stay at home.)
  • Giá mà tôi biết, tôi sẽ giúp. (If I had known, I would have helped.)

• To express polite suggestions or offers (similar to "shall" in questions):

  • Chúng ta sẽ bắt đầu bây giờ chứ? (Shall we start now?)

Variants and Related Words

• Sẽ sẽ (reduplication of "sẽ"): An intensified form meaning "very gently/softly" or "very carefully".

  • Bà ấy cười sẽ sẽ. (She smiled very gently.)

• Khẽ: A near-synonym when "sẽ" means "gently/softly". "Khẽ" is more commonly used in modern Vietnamese for this meaning.

  • Anh ấy gõ khẽ vào cửa. (He knocked gently on the door.)

Synonyms

• Sắp: Indicates that something is about to happen very soon. ("Sẽ" has a broader future timeframe).
  • Xe buýt sắp đến. (The bus is about to arrive.)
• Dự định: Means "to intend/plan to". It emphasizes intention more than simple futurity.
  • Tôi dự định học tiếng Anh. (I intend to study English.)

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Ăn nói sẽ sẽ: To speak gently and softly.

  • Cô giáo mới ăn nói sẽ sẽ với học sinh. (The new teacher speaks gently with the students.)

• Sẽ như ru: Extremely gentle and soft, like a lullaby. (A figurative idiom).

  • Giọng hát của cô ấy sẽ như ru. (Her singing voice is as gentle as a lullaby.)

adv, adj

1. (như) khẽ

adv

1. will, shall, be going to
2. would, should