Definition

1. Conjunction:
   • And also / Moreover / Furthermore: Used to add another point, reason, or piece of information to what has just been said. It functions similarly to "besides" or "what's more."
   • And then / Plus: Used in informal speech to connect ideas, often introducing an additional, sometimes contrasting or explanatory, thought.

Usage Examples

• Conjunction:
  • Hôm nay trời mưa, với lại tôi cũng mệt nên không đi chơi. (It's raining today, and besides, I'm tired, so I'm not going out.)
  • Nhà đó đắt quá, với lại nó xa trung tâm. (That house is too expensive, plus it's far from the center.)
  • Tôi thích đọc sách, với lại đọc sách giúp thư giãn. (I like reading books, and moreover, reading helps you relax.)

Advanced Usage

• "với lại" as a discourse marker: In casual conversation, it is often used at the beginning of a clause to soften an excuse or to pile on reasons, sometimes without a strong logical connection. It can translate to "well, also..." or "the thing is...".
  • Với lại, anh đã hứa rồi mà. (Well, besides, you already promised.)

Variants and Related Words

• Và (conj): and. A simple, neutral conjunction for connecting words or clauses.

  • Tôi thích trà và cà phê. (I like tea and coffee.)

• Hơn nữa (conj): moreover, furthermore. More formal than "với lại".

  • Cô ấy thông minh. Hơn nữa, cô ấy rất chăm chỉ. (She is intelligent. Furthermore, she is very hardworking.)

• Ngoài ra (conj): in addition, besides. Used to add supplementary information.

  • Anh ấy là giáo viên. Ngoài ra, anh ấy còn viết sách. (He is a teacher. In addition, he also writes books.)

Synonyms

• Besides: in addition to what has been said.
• Plus: used to introduce an additional point (informal).
• Moreover: a more formal way to add a point that strengthens the argument.

Notes on Usage

• Register: "Với lại" is primarily used in spoken Vietnamese and informal writing. It is less common in formal or academic texts.
• Position: It typically connects two clauses or sentences. It is not used to connect single words or phrases within a list (use "và" for that).
• Function: It often introduces a secondary, sometimes more subjective, reason or afterthought. The point introduced by "với lại" can be less important than the main point or can provide the speaker's primary justification.