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sẽ

Level ≈A1 (approx.) particleadjective Top 1,000 most common
Hanoi [sɛ˦ˀ˥]Huế [ʂɛ˧˨]Saigon [ʂɛ˨˩˦] browser voice
Syllables · tones
sẽcreaky risingngã

Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →

sẽ means will (marks the future).

Meanings of sẽ in English

Particle

  1. marks the future tense
    • Hội nghị sẽ diễn ra vào tháng 8 tại toà thị chính.The conference will be held at the city hall in August.
  2. marks a desire or a hypothetical

Adjective

  1. alternative form of khẽ

Words with sẽ

sẽ sàng

Example sentences with sẽ

  • Có lẽ tôi sẽ đi câu cá. I'll probably be fishing.
  • Có lẽ Tom sẽ ở đây lâu. Tom will probably be here for a long time.
  • Bạn sẽ về nhà và ở nhà. You'll go home and stay home.
  • Tôi sẽ ăn bất cứ thứ gì. I'll eat anything.
  • Tôi sẽ để mắt đến cô ấy. I'll keep an eye on her.
  • Tom sẽ ăn cái đó thật ư? Is Tom really going to eat that?
  • Tom hy vọng bạn sẽ ở đó. Tom hopes you'll be there.
  • Chúng ta sẽ ở lại đây à? Will we stay here?

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, sẽ could be written as 士, 仕, 𫪣, 𠱊. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.

Usage note: sẽ

sẽ marks the future: "will".

  • Ngày mai tôi sẽ gọi lại. — I'll call back tomorrow.
  • Trời sẽ mưa. — It will rain.
  • Em sẽ nhớ anh. — I'll miss you.

As with đã, sẽ is often dropped when a time word already points to the future: Tuần sau tôi về nước. — I'm going home next week.

For something about to happen very soon, use sắp, not sẽ: Tàu sắp chạy. — The train is about to leave.

Negative future: sẽ không = will not: Tôi sẽ không quên. — I won't forget. Also không bao giờ = never: Tôi sẽ không bao giờ làm vậy.

Making a promise sounds stronger with sẽ and a final mà or đâu: Em sẽ đến mà. — I'll come, I promise.

Etymology

Cognate with Muong khẽ.

Frequently asked questions

What does sẽ mean in English?

sẽ (particle) means "will (marks the future)".

How do you pronounce sẽ?

IPA: Hanoi [sɛ˦ˀ˥]; Saigon [ʂɛ˨˩˦]. Tones: sẽ — creaky rising tone (ngã).

Meanings, pronunciation and etymology from English Wiktionary (wiktionary.org, via kaikki.org; CC BY-SA 4.0), reviewed and edited; example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). IPA shown for three accents: Hanoi (Northern), Huế (Central) and Saigon (Southern). The Listen button uses your browser's Vietnamese voice, for reference only. Levels are approximate, estimated from word frequency. Spotted a mistake? Let NgonNgu know.