thế rồi
Definition
Conjunction:
- And then / Then: Used to indicate a subsequent event or action in a sequence, often with a sense of natural progression or consequence.
- And so: Used to connect a cause or situation to its resulting outcome.
Discourse Particle:
- So then / Well then: Used to move a narrative or conversation forward, signaling a transition to the next point or event.
Usage Examples
Conjunction:
- Anh ấy nói lời tạm biệt, thế rồi bước ra khỏi cửa. (He said goodbye, and then walked out the door.)
- Trời mưa to, thế rồi chúng tôi quyết định ở nhà. (It rained heavily, and so we decided to stay home.)
Discourse Particle:
- "Thế rồi chuyện gì đã xảy ra?" ("So then, what happened?")
- Thế rồi một ngày nọ, mọi thứ thay đổi. (Well then, one day, everything changed.)
Advanced Usage
- In narrative storytelling, "thế rồi" is frequently used to link chronological events smoothly, similar to "then" in English narratives.
- Cô ấy đọc xong lá thư, thế rồi bật khóc. (She finished reading the letter, and then burst into tears.)
Variants and Related Words
- Rồi: A more common and general word for "then" or "already." "Thế rồi" often carries a slightly stronger narrative or consequential link than "rồi" alone.
- Tôi ăn sáng rồi đi làm. (I ate breakfast then went to work.)
Synonyms
- Và rồi: And then.
- Sau đó: After that.
- Thế là: And so; therefore (often implies a definitive conclusion).
Related Idioms and Phrases
Thế rồi sao?: And then what? / So what happened next?
- Anh gặp cô ấy, thế rồi sao? (You met her, and then what?)
Thế rồi đời trôi qua: And so life went on. (A common narrative phrase.)
- Thế rồi đời trôi qua một cách bình lặng. (And so life went on quietly.)