nhé (nha): OK?, softening
VietnameseA2 — Elementary VietnameseCommands, requests and suggestions
PatternStatement / request + nhé
How it works
Nhé at the end softens a suggestion, promise or request and seeks agreement — like 'OK?' or 'all right?': Mai gặp nhé 'See you tomorrow, OK?', Em đợi anh nhé 'Wait for me, OK?'. Southern speech uses nha. Nhé is for equals or younger people; to elders end with ạ instead (Cháu về ạ). Mistake: using nhé in questions with question words (Anh đi đâu nhé? is wrong) or with strangers you should be formal with.
Examples
Mai gặp lại nhé!See you tomorrow!
Em về trước nhé.I'll head home first, OK?
Nhớ gọi cho mẹ nha!Remember to call Mum, OK! (Southern)
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Practice (8)
Choose
Leaving a friend's place: 'I'm off, OK?'
- Mình về nhỉ.
- Mình về à.
- Mình về chưa.
- Mình về nhé.
Show answer
Answer: Mình về nhé.
Nhé softens an announcement and seeks agreement. À would make it a surprised question.
Nhé softens an announcement and seeks agreement. À would make it a surprised question.
Choose
Which sentence is WRONG?
- Anh đi cẩn thận nhé.
- Tối nay gọi cho em nhé.
- Anh đi đâu nhé?
- Nhớ ăn sáng nhé.
Show answer
Answer: Anh đi đâu nhé?
Nhé does not go with question words like đâu.
Nhé does not go with question words like đâu.
Choose
In Saigon you'll often hear __ instead of nhé.
- hả
- nha
- mà
- nhỉ
Show answer
Answer: nha
Southern nha = Northern nhé.
Southern nha = Northern nhé.
Choose
'Để tôi giúp anh nhé.' means…
- Let me help you, OK?
- Did I help you?
- Help me, please.
- You helped me, right?
Show answer
Answer: Let me help you, OK?
Để tôi… nhé = let me…, OK?
Để tôi… nhé = let me…, OK?
Fill in
Mai 7 giờ gặp ở quán cà phê ＿＿.
Hint: Let's meet at the café at 7 tomorrow, OK?
Show answer
Answer: nhé / nha
Final nhé makes a friendly suggestion.
Final nhé makes a friendly suggestion.
Fill in
Con đi học ngoan ＿＿!
Hint: Be good at school, OK!
Show answer
Answer: nhé / nha
Soft instruction with nhé.
Soft instruction with nhé.
Put in order
Put in order: Wait for me a bit, OK?
- Đợi
- nhé.
- một chút
- mình
Show answer
Answer: Đợi mình một chút nhé.
V + O + time + nhé.
V + O + time + nhé.
Put in order
Put in order: I'll call you later, OK?
- gọi lại
- nhé.
- Lát nữa em
Show answer
Answer: Lát nữa em gọi lại nhé.
Promise softened by nhé.
Promise softened by nhé.