Definition

1. Phrasal Verb:
   • To leave alone / to let be: The primary meaning of "để mặt" is to refrain from interfering with someone or something; to allow a person or situation to remain as they are without disturbance or assistance.
   • To ignore (deliberately): It can imply a conscious decision to pay no attention to someone, often as a form of punishment, indifference, or to allow them to learn from their own actions.

Usage Examples

• Phrasal Verb:
  • Nó đang buồn, cứ để mặt nó một mình đi. (He is sad, just leave him alone.)
  • Con mèo đang ngủ, mẹ để mặt nó đấy. (The cat is sleeping, mom left it alone.)
  • Nó cứ làm sai, để mặt nó tự giải quyết hậu quả đi. (He keeps making mistakes, let him deal with the consequences himself.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a nuance of stepping back from a situation, sometimes to teach a lesson or because further involvement is futile. It is not merely physical non-interference but can also be emotional or psychological.

Variants and Related Words

• Để yên (phrasal verb): to leave in peace, to leave undisturbed. This is a close synonym, often interchangeable.

  • Để yên cho tôi làm việc. (Leave me alone to work.)

• Mặc kệ (verb): to disregard, to leave to one's own devices. This can sound slightly more indifferent or harsh than "để mặt."

  • Mặc kệ nó muốn làm gì thì làm. (Let him do whatever he wants.)

Synonyms

• Leave alone: To not disturb or bother.
• Let be: To allow to remain in the current state.
• Ignore: To refuse to take notice of.

Related Idioms

• Để mặt mặc tình: A reinforced form meaning "to leave completely alone/to let someone do as they please."
  • Nó đã lớn rồi, để mặt mặc tình nó quyết định. (He's grown up now, let him decide for himself completely.)

1. Let be, leave alone
   • Để mặc nó
     Leave him alone