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A1 adjective 9 min de lectura

Mấy

Q: Can I use 'mấy' to ask for the price?

Generally, no. Prices in Vietnam are usually in the thousands or millions, so 'bao nhiêu' is the correct term. 'Mấy' is only used for prices in very specific slang or when referring to a small number of 'thousand-dong' units, but it's safer for learners to stick to 'bao nhiêu'.

Q: Is 'mấy' always less than ten?

Usually, yes. It implies the speaker expects a single-digit answer. However, for units like 'mấy chục' (several tens) or 'mấy trăm' (several hundreds), it can refer to larger numbers, but the core 'mấy' still suggests a small number of those units (e.g., 20-90).

Q: Do I always need a classifier with 'mấy'?

Yes, if you are referring to a noun that requires a classifier (like most objects and people). You don't need one for units of measure like 'giờ' (hour), 'ngày' (day), or 'phút' (minute).

Q: How do I say 'a few' in Northern vs. Southern Vietnam?

In the North, 'vài' is very common for 'a few' in statements. In the South, 'mấy' is frequently used for both questions and 'a few' in statements. Both are understood everywhere.

Q: Can 'mấy' be used for people?

Yes, 'mấy người' (how many people/a few people) or 'mấy đứa' (a few kids) is very common. Just be careful with 'mấy tuổi' for adults.

Q: What does 'mấy khi' mean?

It literally means 'how many times/occasions' but is almost always used to mean 'rarely' or 'seldom' in a rhetorical way.

Q: What is the difference between 'mấy' and 'một số'?

'Một số' is more formal and sounds like 'some' or 'a number of'. 'Mấy' is more casual and sounds like 'a few'.

Q: Why is it 'Thứ mấy' and not 'Thứ bao nhiêu'?

Because there are only 7 days in a week, which is under the 'Rule of 10', so 'mấy' is the natural choice.

Q: Can I use 'mấy' for uncountable nouns?

No. For uncountable nouns like water, air, or rice (as a mass), use 'bao nhiêu' or 'một ít'.

Q: Is 'mấy' a pronoun or an adjective?

It can be both. In 'Mấy người?', it's an adjective. In 'Bạn cần mấy?', it acts as a pronoun.

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos Mấy en 30 segundos

Explicación Mấy in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'mấy' is one of the first question words you will learn. Its primary use is in very common, survival-level phrases. You will use it to ask for the time ('Mấy giờ?'), the day of the week ('Thứ mấy?'), and the day of the month ('Ngày mấy?'). You will also learn to use it when asking for small quantities in a shop, such as 'Mấy cái này?' (How many of these?). At this stage, you should focus on the fixed patterns and the general rule that 'mấy' is for numbers under ten. Don't worry about the complex rhetorical uses yet; just focus on getting the time and basic counts right. You will also use it to ask a child's age, which is a common ice-breaker in Vietnamese culture.

As an A2 learner, you start using 'mấy' in declarative sentences to mean 'a few.' You will begin to form more complex sentences like 'Tôi ở Việt Nam mấy tháng' (I have been in Vietnam for a few months). You will also learn to pair 'mấy' with a wider variety of classifiers (con, cái, quyển, tờ, bức). At this level, you should be careful to distinguish between 'mấy' and 'bao nhiêu' in more varied contexts, such as asking about family members or small items in a grocery store. You will also encounter 'mấy' in the context of transportation, such as asking for a bus number ('Xe buýt số mấy?').

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'mấy' in more idiomatic ways. You will learn phrases like 'không mấy khi' (not very often) and 'chẳng mấy chốc' (very soon). You will also start to see 'mấy' used in rhetorical questions where the speaker is emphasizing that a quantity is small or insignificant. For example, 'Có mấy đồng mà cũng tính toán' (It's just a few pennies, why calculate so much?). You will also begin to use 'mấy' in 'no matter how' constructions, such as 'Dù mấy người đi nữa...' (No matter how many people go...). This level requires a deeper understanding of the speaker's intent and tone.

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By B2, you are expected to understand the subtle social nuances of 'mấy.' You know when using 'mấy' instead of 'bao nhiêu' might sound informal, rude, or overly familiar. You can use 'mấy' to express sarcasm or to downplay an achievement or a problem. You will encounter 'mấy' in more formal literature and news reports where it might be used to describe a 'small but significant' group. You are also proficient in using 'mấy' in complex time-related expressions and can navigate the differences between Northern and Southern usage of 'mấy' versus 'vài' in casual speech.

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At the C1 level, you use 'mấy' with the precision of a native speaker. you understand its use in classical poetry and proverbs, such as 'Mấy đời bánh đúc có xương' (Never has a rice cake had bones - meaning something is impossible or against nature). You can detect the emotional weight behind 'mấy' in various dialects and registers. You use it fluently in academic or professional discussions to refer to 'a few specific cases' (mấy trường hợp cụ thể) as opposed to 'many general cases' (nhiều trường hợp chung). Your choice of 'mấy' reflects a high level of cultural and linguistic awareness.

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As a C2 learner, you have mastered the 'soul' of the word 'mấy.' You can use it to create puns, double entendres, and sophisticated rhetorical effects. You understand its historical etymology and how it has evolved in different regions of Vietnam. You can analyze the use of 'mấy' in modern Vietnamese cinema and literature to characterize a speaker's social class or personality. You are able to translate complex English concepts involving 'a few' or 'some' into Vietnamese using 'mấy' or its alternatives with perfect contextual accuracy, capturing the exact shade of meaning intended.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

Mấy en 30 segundos

Means 'how many' for small numbers (<10).
Means 'a few' in statements.
Essential for asking time and dates.
Always use with a classifier for objects.

The Vietnamese word mấy is a versatile quantifier and interrogative adjective that primarily translates to 'how many' or 'a few' in English. However, unlike the broad English 'how many,' mấy carries a specific numerical expectation. In the Vietnamese linguistic mindset, mấy is strictly reserved for small quantities, typically those ranging from one to about ten. When a speaker uses mấy in a question, they are signaling that they expect the answer to be a low number. For example, if you see a small stack of books on a table, you would ask 'Có mấy quyển sách?'. If the stack were massive, you would switch to bao nhiêu. This distinction is crucial for sounding natural in Vietnamese conversations.

Interrogative Usage: Used to ask 'how many' when the expected answer is less than ten. It is commonly used for age (for children), time, and small countable objects.
Indefinite Usage: In declarative sentences, it functions as 'a few' or 'some.' For example, 'Tôi có mấy người bạn' means 'I have a few friends.'

Beyond simple counting, mấy is deeply embedded in the social fabric of Vietnam. It is the default word for asking the time (Mấy giờ?) because hours only go up to twelve, which is close enough to the 'small number' threshold. Similarly, when asking a child's age, one uses mấy (Cháu mấy tuổi?), whereas for an adult, the more respectful and open-ended bao nhiêu is preferred. This subtle shift reflects the speaker's perception of the subject. Using mấy for an adult's age can sometimes sound patronizing or overly informal, as it implies their age is a 'small' or insignificant number.

Bây giờ là mấy giờ rồi? (What time is it now?)

Furthermore, mấy is used in various idiomatic expressions to denote a lack of frequency or a short duration. The phrase không mấy khi means 'not very often' or 'rarely.' This highlights how the concept of 'smallness' inherent in the word extends from physical quantity to abstract concepts like frequency and time. When someone says 'Chẳng mấy chốc', they are saying 'in no time' or 'very soon,' literally 'not many moments.' Understanding mấy requires moving beyond a simple dictionary translation and embracing the Vietnamese preference for categorizing the world into 'small/manageable' and 'large/unknown' quantities.

Anh đi mấy ngày? (How many days are you going for? - implying a short trip)

Grammar Structure: [Noun] + [Mấy] + [Classifier] + [Noun]? Or simply [Mấy] + [Noun] for specific units like hours or years.

Constructing sentences with mấy follows specific syntactic patterns that differ slightly depending on whether you are asking a question or making a statement. In a question, mấy occupies the position where the number would be in the answer. This 'in-place' questioning style is a hallmark of Vietnamese grammar. For example, if the answer is 'Ba cái' (Three things), the question is 'Mấy cái?' (How many things?). Note the essential role of the classifier (like cái, con, quyển) which must follow mấy when referring to specific objects.

Nhà bạn có mấy người? (How many people are there in your family?)

When used in a declarative sentence, mấy functions as an indefinite quantifier similar to 'a few' or 'several.' It is often preceded by words like có (to have) or chỉ (only). For instance, 'Tôi có mấy người bạn thân' (I have a few close friends). Here, the speaker is intentionally being vague or emphasizing that the number is not large. If the speaker wanted to emphasize a large number of friends, they would use nhiều instead. This usage is common in storytelling and casual conversation to provide a sense of quantity without needing to be precise.

With Classifiers: Mấy + [Classifier] + [Noun]. Example: Mấy con chó (a few dogs / how many dogs?).
With Time Units: Mấy + [Hour/Day/Month/Year]. Example: Mấy giờ (What time?), Mấy tháng (How many months?).

Another advanced use of mấy is in rhetorical questions or to express surprise. When someone asks 'Có mấy đồng mà cũng tiếc?', they are saying 'It's only a few pennies, why are you being so stingy?'. Here, mấy minimizes the value of the object. It can also be used in the structure mấy... cũng... to mean 'no matter how many/much.' For example, 'Mấy người cũng được' means 'Any number of people is fine' or 'No matter how many people, it’s okay.'

Bạn đợi tôi mấy phút nhé. (Wait for me for a few minutes, okay?)

In the daily life of a Vietnamese person, mấy is ubiquitous. You will hear it the moment you step out of your house and interact with the community. At a local market, a vendor might ask, 'Em mua mấy quả?' (How many [fruits] are you buying?), assuming you aren't buying a whole crate. It creates a sense of casual, small-scale commerce. If you were a wholesaler, they would use bao nhiêu. This choice of words sets the tone for the transaction—intimate and personal rather than corporate and bulk.

Chị lấy mấy bát phở? (How many bowls of pho would you like?)

Socially, mấy is used to check in on friends and family. When meeting a relative after a long time, they might ask about your children: 'Cháu lớn mấy tuổi rồi?' (How old is the eldest now?). Because children's ages are small numbers, mấy is the natural choice. You'll also hear it in offices when colleagues are coordinating lunch: 'Trưa nay có mấy người đi ăn?' (How many people are going to eat this noon?). It implies a small group of coworkers, not the entire department. If the whole office were going, bao nhiêu would be more appropriate.

In Transportation: Asking for bus numbers (Xe buýt số mấy?) or seat numbers on a train.
In Education: Teachers asking students to turn to a certain page (Trang mấy?) or asking about grades.

In media and pop culture, mấy appears in song lyrics and movie titles to evoke a sense of nostalgia or simplicity. A song might mention 'mấy mùa mưa' (a few rainy seasons) to suggest a passing of time that feels both short and significant. In news broadcasts, reporters use mấy when referring to a small number of casualties or minor events, whereas hàng loạt (a series of) or nhiều (many) is used for major occurrences. This linguistic precision helps listeners immediately grasp the scale of the news being reported.

Em học lớp mấy? (What grade are you in?)

The most frequent mistake English speakers make is using mấy when they should use bao nhiêu, and vice-versa. Because English uses 'how many' for all countable quantities, learners often forget the 'Rule of 10' in Vietnamese. For example, asking 'Thành phố này có mấy người?' (How many people are in this city?) sounds very strange to a native speaker because a city obviously has more than ten people. In this context, bao nhiêu is mandatory. Using mấy here might make it sound like you are asking about a tiny village or that you are making a joke about the city's small population.

Sai: Cái áo này giá mấy tiền? (Incorrect: How much does this shirt cost?)

Another common error is related to prices. In Vietnamese, prices are almost always large numbers (thousands or millions of Dong). Therefore, you should never use mấy to ask for the price of something, even if it's cheap. Always use bao nhiêu for money. Saying 'Mấy tiền?' is grammatically incorrect and sounds very uneducated. The only exception is if you are using 'mấy' in a rhetorical, dismissive way, like 'It only costs a few [mấy] thousand,' but even then, the question form remains bao nhiêu.

The Missing Classifier: Mistake: 'Mấy sách?' Correct: 'Mấy quyển sách?'. You must include the classifier when asking about objects.
Age Confusion: Using 'mấy tuổi' for an elderly person is disrespectful. Use 'bao nhiêu tuổi' or 'bác thọ bao nhiêu' instead.

Learners also struggle with the placement of mấy in time expressions. While 'Mấy giờ?' is 'What time?', 'Giờ mấy?' is incorrect. However, for dates, it is 'Ngày mấy?' (Which day of the month?) or 'Thứ mấy?' (Which day of the week?). This inconsistency can be frustrating. Remember that for 'What time', mấy comes first, but for specific calendar days, mấy often comes after the noun. Practice these specific chunks as fixed phrases rather than trying to apply a universal rule for all time-related words.

To master Vietnamese quantifiers, one must understand how mấy relates to its synonyms and alternatives. The most obvious comparison is with bao nhiêu. While mấy is for small numbers (<10), bao nhiêu is for large numbers, unknown quantities, or uncountable nouns like water and air. In many cases, if you are unsure which one to use, bao nhiêu is a safer, more polite 'default' for adults, while mấy is more intimate and specific.

Mấy vs. Vài: Both mean 'a few.' However, 'vài' is only used in statements, never in questions. 'Mấy' can be used in both.
Mấy vs. Một số: 'Một số' translates to 'some' or 'a number of.' it is more formal and can refer to a larger 'few' than 'mấy' typically does.

Another interesting alternative is dăm ba. This is a more colloquial, slightly old-fashioned way of saying 'a few' or 'three or four.' It is often used to downplay the importance of something, such as 'dăm ba câu chuyện' (just a few stories/gossip). While mấy is neutral, dăm ba carries a slightly dismissive or casual flavor. There is also một ít, which means 'a little bit' and is used for uncountable nouns, whereas mấy is strictly for countable items.

Tôi cần vài phút. vs Tôi cần mấy phút. (Both are correct for 'I need a few minutes')

Finally, in Southern Vietnam, you might hear nhiêu used as a shortened version of bao nhiêu, but mấy is rarely shortened. In formal writing, mấy is often replaced by more precise terms like một vài or số ít. Understanding these nuances allows a learner to shift their register from the casual 'mấy' of the street market to the formal 'một số' of a business report or the poetic 'dăm ba' of a folk tale.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The word 'mấy' is so fundamental that it exists in almost all Vietnamese dialects with the same rising tone, though the vowel might shift slightly in the far south.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /meɪ̯˧˥/

US /meɪ̯˧˥/

Single syllable, emphasis is on the rising tone.

Rima con

cấy đấy ấy giấy mấy nấy tấy thấy

Errores comunes

Pronouncing it with a flat tone (sounds like 'mây' - cloud).
Not rising high enough (sounds like 'mẩy' - plump).
Confusing it with 'mày' (informal you).
Shortening the 'ay' sound too much.
Pronouncing it like English 'my'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text as a question word or 'a few'.

Escritura 2/5

Must remember to include classifiers when using it with objects.

Expresión oral 2/5

The rising tone must be clear to avoid confusion with 'mây' or 'mày'.

Escucha 1/5

Distinctive sound and usually appears in predictable contexts like time or counts.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

số (number) giờ (hour) cái (classifier) người (person) có (to have)

Aprende después

bao nhiêu (how many/much) vài (a few) nhiều (many) ít (few/little) hàng (prefix for large numbers)

Avanzado

mấy khi (rarely) chẳng mấy chốc (soon) mấy đời (generations) mấy ai (few people) dù... mấy (no matter how)

Gramática que debes saber

Classifiers are mandatory after 'mấy' for objects.

Mấy con mèo (Correct) vs Mấy mèo (Incorrect)

'Mấy' usually implies a count of 1-10.

Asking 'Thành phố có mấy người?' is logically odd.

In questions, 'mấy' stays in the position of the expected answer.

Bạn có mấy cái? -> Tôi có 3 cái.

'Mấy' can be used with large units (mấy triệu) to mean 'several million'.

Cái xe này giá mấy triệu đồng.

'Mấy' as an adverb 'không mấy' means 'not very'.

Tôi không mấy hài lòng.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Bây giờ là mấy giờ?

What time is it now?

'Mấy' comes before 'giờ' to ask for the time.

Hôm nay là thứ mấy?

What day of the week is it today?

'Thứ mấy' is a fixed phrase for days of the week.

Em mấy tuổi rồi?

How old are you? (to a child)

Used for children's ages, usually under 10.

Anh mua mấy cái?

How many [objects] are you buying?

'Cái' is a general classifier for objects.

Nhà bạn có mấy người?

How many people are in your family?

Expects a small number answer.

Bạn đợi mấy phút?

How many minutes are you waiting?

'Phút' does not require an additional classifier.

Quyển sách này giá mấy đồng?

How many [thousand] dong is this book? (Colloquial)

Rarely used for money except in very casual/slang contexts.

Xe buýt số mấy?

Which bus number?

'Số mấy' means 'which number'.

Tôi có mấy người bạn Việt Nam.

I have a few Vietnamese friends.

'Mấy' here means 'a few' in a statement.

Anh ấy đi công tác mấy ngày.

He is going on a business trip for a few days.

Indicates a short duration.

Trong tủ lạnh còn mấy quả trứng.

There are a few eggs left in the fridge.

'Quả' is the classifier for round objects like eggs.

Tôi đã đọc quyển sách này mấy lần.

I have read this book a few times.

'Lần' means 'times' or 'occurrences'.

Mấy đứa trẻ đang chơi ngoài sân.

A few children are playing in the yard.

'Đứa' is the classifier for children.

Bạn có mấy cái bút?

How many pens do you have?

Questioning a small quantity.

Chúng tôi gặp nhau mấy năm trước.

We met each other a few years ago.

'Mấy năm' means 'a few years'.

Cho tôi mấy tờ giấy.

Give me a few sheets of paper.

'Tờ' is the classifier for flat objects like paper.

Tôi không mấy khi đi xem phim.

I don't often go to see movies.

'Không mấy khi' is a common idiom for 'rarely'.

Chẳng mấy chốc trời đã tối.

In no time, it was already dark.

'Chẳng mấy chốc' means 'very soon' or 'before long'.

Có mấy đồng bạc mà anh cũng tiếc sao?

It's just a few silver coins, and you're still stingy?

Rhetorical use to belittle a small amount.

Dù mấy người phản đối, tôi vẫn làm.

No matter how many people object, I will still do it.

'Dù mấy...' means 'no matter how many...'

Anh ta nói mấy câu rồi đi.

He said a few words and then left.

Suggests a brief and perhaps dismissive interaction.

Mấy khi bạn mới đến chơi nhà tôi.

It's rare that you come to visit my house.

'Mấy khi' at the start of a sentence emphasizes rarity.

Công việc này chỉ mất mấy phút thôi.

This job only takes a few minutes.

'Chỉ... thôi' emphasizes the smallness of 'mấy'.

Bạn chọn số mấy trong các số này?

Which number do you choose among these?

'Số mấy' is used for selection.

Chỉ có mấy người hiểu được ý nghĩa của nó.

Only a few people can understand its meaning.

Indicates exclusivity or difficulty.

Mấy đời nhà tôi đều làm nghề giáo.

For several generations, my family has been teachers.

'Mấy đời' refers to multiple generations.

Hỏi mấy lần mà anh ta vẫn không trả lời.

Asked several times but he still didn't answer.

Indicates repeated but unsuccessful action.

Mấy ai biết được chữ ngờ.

Few people can predict the unexpected.

'Mấy ai' is a literary way to say 'hardly anyone'.

Anh ấy chẳng mấy hào hứng với kế hoạch này.

He isn't very excited about this plan.

'Chẳng mấy' functions as an adverb of degree (not very).

Mấy hôm nay trời cứ mưa suốt.

The past few days, it has been raining constantly.

'Mấy hôm nay' refers to the immediate past few days.

Dù khó khăn mấy, chúng ta cũng phải vượt qua.

No matter how difficult, we must overcome it.

'Khó khăn mấy' means 'no matter how difficult'.

Anh làm thế thì còn mấy người tin anh nữa?

If you do that, who will still believe you? (Implying very few)

Rhetorical question implying a diminishing number.

Mấy tầng mây che khuất đỉnh núi.

Several layers of clouds obscured the mountain peak.

Literary use describing layers.

Mấy khi có dịp hội ngộ đông đủ thế này.

Rarely is there an occasion for such a full reunion.

High-level social expression of appreciation.

Ông ấy chỉ còn mấy hơi tàn.

He only has a few dying breaths left.

Metaphorical and somber use of 'mấy'.

Mấy dòng tâm sự này hy vọng bạn sẽ hiểu.

I hope you will understand these few lines of heartfelt thoughts.

Humble way to refer to one's own writing.

Cái giá phải trả cho mấy phút bốc đồng là quá lớn.

The price to pay for a few minutes of impulsiveness is too high.

Abstract use of 'mấy' in a moral context.

Mấy lời vàng ngọc của thầy tôi luôn ghi nhớ.

I always remember my teacher's precious words.

'Mấy lời' here is a polite way to group important advice.

Dù có mấy mươi năm nữa, tình cảm vẫn vậy.

Even in another few decades, the feeling remains the same.

'Mấy mươi' means 'several tens' or 'decades'.

Chẳng mấy chốc mà con cái đã trưởng thành.

In no time at all, the children have grown up.

Reflecting on the rapid passage of time.

Mấy đời bánh đúc có xương, mấy đời dì ghẻ lại thương con chồng.

Never has a rice cake had bones, never has a stepmother loved her husband's child.

Classic proverb using 'mấy' to denote impossibility.

Thân phận con người chẳng qua cũng chỉ là mấy cõi tạm.

Human fate is after all just a few temporary realms.

Highly philosophical and existential usage.

Mấy độ xuân về, lòng người lại náo nức.

Every time spring returns, people's hearts are excited.

'Mấy độ' is a poetic way to say 'whenever' or 'each time'.

Chút danh lợi hão huyền ấy đáng giá mấy đồng?

How much is that vain fame and fortune worth? (Implying nothing)

Sarcastic and philosophical dismissal of value.

Mấy thuở mới có một bậc hiền tài như thế.

Rarely in any era is there such a talented and virtuous person.

'Mấy thuở' is an archaic, formal way to express extreme rarity.

Sự đời xoay vần, mấy ai giữ được bản tâm.

The world turns, few can keep their original heart.

Reflective and literary observation on human nature.

Mấy mảnh tình riêng, ta gửi vào gió mây.

A few fragments of private love, I send into the wind and clouds.

Poetic usage typical of classic Vietnamese literature (like Truyện Kiều).

Dẫu có mấy trùng khơi cách trở, lòng ta vẫn hướng về quê hương.

Even if separated by several layers of ocean, my heart still turns toward my homeland.

'Mấy trùng' emphasizes vast, repeated distance.

Sinónimos

vài một số bao nhiêu dăm ba một ít hàng loạt nhiều vài ba

Antónimos

nhiều vô số tất cả hàng ngàn

Colocaciones comunes

Mấy giờ

Thứ mấy

Ngày mấy

Số mấy

Mấy lần

Mấy ngày

Mấy tuổi

Mấy cái

Mấy người

Trang mấy

Frases Comunes

Mấy khi

— Rarely or 'how often' in a rhetorical sense.

Mấy khi anh mới đến chơi.

Chẳng mấy chốc

— In no time, very soon.

Chẳng mấy chốc mà hết năm.

Không mấy

— Not very (used as an adverb).

Tôi không mấy hứng thú.

Mấy chục

— Several tens (20, 30, etc.).

Có mấy chục người tham gia.

Mấy trăm

— Several hundreds.

Giá mấy trăm ngàn.

Mấy triệu

— Several millions.

Cái điện thoại này mấy triệu?

Mấy hôm nay

— The last few days.

Mấy hôm nay tôi bận.

Mấy đời

— For generations / Never (in proverbs).

Mấy đời nhà tôi ở đây.

Chỉ mấy

— Only a few.

Chỉ mấy người biết.

Mấy cũng được

— Any amount is fine (usually small).

Mấy cái cũng được.

Se confunde a menudo con

Mấy vs bao nhiêu

'Bao nhiêu' is for large/unknown numbers, 'mấy' is for small numbers (<10).

Mấy vs vài

'Vài' is only for statements, 'mấy' is for both statements and questions.

Mấy vs mây

'Mây' (flat tone) means 'cloud'; 'mấy' (rising tone) is the quantifier.

Modismos y expresiones

"Mấy đời bánh đúc có xương"

— Something that is impossible or contrary to nature.

Mấy đời bánh đúc có xương, mấy đời dì ghẻ lại thương con chồng.

proverbial

"Chẳng mấy chốc"

— Happening very quickly or soon.

Ăn đi, chẳng mấy chốc là đến giờ đi rồi.

neutral

"Mấy khi có dịp"

— A rare opportunity.

Mấy khi có dịp, mình phải đi chơi thôi.

neutral

"Không mấy mặn mà"

— Not very interested or enthusiastic.

Cô ấy không mấy mặn mà với lời đề nghị đó.

literary

"Mấy ai biết được"

— Hardly anyone knows.

Sự thật này mấy ai biết được.

literary

"Mấy trùng cách trở"

— Great distance or many obstacles.

Tình yêu vượt qua mấy trùng cách trở.

poetic

"Mấy độ xuân về"

— Every time spring comes.

Mấy độ xuân về, tôi lại nhớ quê.

poetic

"Mấy mặt một lời"

— To speak directly face-to-face.

Để tôi gặp anh ta, mấy mặt một lời cho rõ.

colloquial

"Dăm ba mấy hồi"

— Just a short period of time.

Cuộc đời dăm ba mấy hồi, lo chi cho mệt.

informal

"Mấy thuở"

— Rarely, in what era (implies extreme rarity).

Mấy thuở mới gặp được người tốt như vậy.

archaic

Fácil de confundir

Mấy vs bao nhiêu

Both mean 'how many'.

'Mấy' is for small numbers (<10); 'bao nhiêu' is for large numbers or money.

Mấy cái kẹo? vs Bao nhiêu tiền?

Mấy vs vài

Both mean 'a few'.

'Vài' is never used in questions. 'Mấy' can be used in both questions and statements.

Tôi có vài/mấy người bạn. (Both okay) vs Bạn có mấy người bạn? (Only mấy)

Mấy vs mỗi

Both refer to quantity.

'Mỗi' means 'each/every' (singular focus); 'mấy' means 'a few' (plural focus).

Mỗi người một cái. vs Mấy người đi?

Mấy vs một ít

Both mean a small amount.

'Một ít' is for uncountable nouns (water, sugar); 'mấy' is for countable nouns (books, people).

Một ít nước. vs Mấy chai nước?

Mấy vs nhiều

Opposite meanings but both are quantifiers.

'Nhiều' is many/much; 'mấy' is few/how many (small).

Nhiều tiền. vs Mấy đồng?

Patrones de oraciones

Mấy + [Time Unit]?

Mấy giờ?

Thứ + mấy?

Thứ mấy?

Mấy + Classifier + Noun?

Mấy cái ghế?

Subject + Verb + mấy + Classifier + Noun.

Tôi mua mấy quả táo.

Không mấy + Adjective.

Không mấy đẹp.

Chẳng mấy chốc...

Chẳng mấy chốc phim bắt đầu.

Mấy khi + [Clause]

Mấy khi anh qua chơi.

Dù + [Adjective] + mấy + cũng...

Dù khó mấy cũng làm.

Familia de palabras

Adjetivos

mấy (quantifier)

Relacionado

mọi (every)

mỗi (each)

vài (a few)

bao nhiêu (how many)

nhiều (many)

Regístrate gratis para ver todos los ejemplos

Cómo usarlo

frequency

Extremely frequent in daily spoken Vietnamese.

Errores comunes

Asking 'Thành phố có mấy người?' → Thành phố có bao nhiêu người?
Cities have thousands of people, so 'mấy' is inappropriate.
Asking 'Cái này giá mấy tiền?' → Cái này giá bao nhiêu?
Money/prices always use 'bao nhiêu' because the numbers are large.
Saying 'Mấy sách' → Mấy quyển sách
You must use a classifier (quyển) between 'mấy' and the noun.
Using 'mấy tuổi' for a 50-year-old. → Bác bao nhiêu tuổi rồi ạ?
'Mấy tuổi' is only for children; it sounds disrespectful for adults.
Using 'vài' in a question like 'Bạn có vài cái?' → Bạn có mấy cái?
'Vài' is only for statements, never for questions.

Consejos

The Rule of 10

Always use 'mấy' when you think the answer is 10 or less. Use 'bao nhiêu' for anything higher or unknown.

Asking Age

Only use 'mấy tuổi' for children. For anyone older than a teenager, use 'bao nhiêu tuổi' to be polite.

Rising High

Make sure your voice goes up at the end of 'mấy'. It's a sharp, questioning rise.

Time Phrases

Memorize 'Mấy giờ' and 'Thứ mấy' as single blocks of meaning. They are the most common uses.

Indefinite 'Mấy'

In a sentence like 'Tôi đi mấy ngày', it means 'I'm going for a few days'. It's not a question.

Classifiers Matter

Never forget the classifier. 'Mấy quyển sách' is correct, 'Mấy sách' is wrong.

Listen for 'Chỉ'

If you hear 'chỉ mấy...', it strongly emphasizes that there are 'only a few'.

Dismissive 'Mấy'

Using 'mấy' for money often implies you think the amount is tiny or unimportant.

Mấy vs. Vài

If you want to ask a question, you MUST use 'mấy'. 'Vài' cannot ask questions.

Rhetorical Questions

'Mấy ai...' is a great way to start a poetic sentence meaning 'Few people...'

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Mấy rhymes with 'May'. Think: 'May I have a FEW?'. The rising tone is like your eyebrows going up when asking a question.

Asociación visual

Imagine a small group of 3-4 apples. Label them 'Mấy'. Imagine a giant mountain of apples. Label it 'Bao nhiêu'.

Word Web

mấy giờ mấy tuổi mấy lần mấy người mấy cái thứ mấy ngày mấy số mấy

Desafío

Try to ask three questions today using 'mấy': ask the time, ask for a few of something at a shop, and ask what day it is.

Origen de la palabra

Native Vietnamese (Austroasiatic).

Significado original: Small quantity, interrogative for small numbers.

Mon-Khmer / Austroasiatic.

Contexto cultural

Avoid using 'mấy tuổi' for people significantly older than you; it can sound childish or disrespectful.

English speakers often over-use 'mấy' for large numbers because 'how many' is universal. Remember the 'Rule of 10'.

'Mấy đời bánh đúc có xương' (Proverb) 'Mấy nhịp cầu tre' (Common image in folk songs) 'Mấy mùa mưa' (Famous Bolero song title)

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At a Market

Mấy quả?
Mấy ký?
Mấy cái?
Mấy tiền? (very casual)

Telling Time

Mấy giờ rồi?
Mấy giờ bạn đi?
Mấy phút nữa?
Mấy tiếng đồng hồ?

Socializing

Nhà có mấy anh em?
Mấy đứa con?
Đi mấy người?
Mấy tuổi?

At School

Trang mấy?
Bài mấy?
Số mấy?
Mấy điểm?

On the Street

Xe số mấy?
Đường số mấy?
Ngõ mấy?
Mấy cây số?

Inicios de conversación

"Bây giờ là mấy giờ rồi bạn nhỉ?"

"Gia đình bạn có mấy người?"

"Bạn học tiếng Việt được mấy tháng rồi?"

"Một tuần bạn đi tập thể dục mấy lần?"

"Hôm nay là thứ mấy, tôi quên mất rồi?"

Temas para diario

Viết về mấy người bạn thân nhất của bạn.

Kể về mấy việc bạn thường làm vào buổi sáng.

Mấy năm nữa bạn muốn làm gì?

Hôm nay bạn đã ăn mấy bữa và ăn những gì?

Liệt kê mấy thứ bạn muốn mua trong tuần này.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas