nhỉ
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
nhỉ means (tag question: …, isn't it?).
Meanings of nhỉ in English
Particle
- Used to create a tag question.
- Chắc hay lắm nhỉ?Must have been good, wasn't it?
- Bài này khó dữ nhỉ?This one's really tough, don't you think?
Example sentences with nhỉ
- Hôm nay cậu có vẻ vui nhỉ. You seem happy today.
- Hôm nay bạn có vẻ rảnh nhỉ? You don't seem very busy today.
- Câu ví dụ hay thật đấy nhỉ? The example sentence was splendid, wasn't it?
- Mình để chìa khoá ở đâu nhỉ? Where did I leave the key?
- Nó không trông khác thường đâu nhỉ? Doesn't it look a little strange?
- Hôm qua là thứ mấy nhỉ? Yesterday was what day of the week?
- Cái laptop này nhẹ phết nhỉ. This laptop is light.
- Tên của cậu ta là gì vậy nhỉ? What's his first name?
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, nhỉ could be written as 𠰚. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Usage note: nhỉ
nhỉ at the end of a sentence looks for agreement, like "isn't it?" or "don't you think?". It is very common in the North.
- Hôm nay nóng quá nhỉ? — It's so hot today, isn't it?
- Món này ngon nhỉ! — This is tasty, isn't it!
It also appears when you are thinking aloud, trying to remember: Anh ấy tên gì nhỉ? — What was his name again? Để ở đâu rồi nhỉ? — Now where did I put it?
Compare with nhé: nhé is about proposals and requests (let's…, OK?); nhỉ is about sharing an opinion or wondering. Đi nhé. — Let's go, OK? Đẹp nhỉ. — Pretty, isn't it?
In the South, the same feeling is often expressed with hen or ha: Nóng quá ha!
A good conversation starter with strangers: comment on the weather + nhỉ.
Frequently asked questions
What does nhỉ mean in English?
nhỉ (particle) means "(tag question: …, isn't it?)".
How do you pronounce nhỉ?
IPA: Hanoi [ɲi˧˩]; Saigon [ɲɪj˨˩˦]. Tones: nhỉ — dipping tone (hỏi).