à₁ is used when the speaker suddenly realizes, understands, or remembers something. It signals a moment of confirmation or recognition, often after receiving new information.
The speaker uses à₁ to show: “I see.” / “Now I understand.”
[1] – A: Nhà anh ở đâu? Where is your house?
– B: Ở gần bưu điện. It’s near the post office.
– A: À, tôi biết rồi. Oh, I know now.
→ à₁ shows that the speaker has just connected the information.
[2] – À, hôm nay là thứ Hai. Oh, today is Monday.
→ The speaker suddenly remembers an important detail.
[3] – À, không phải anh, là em trai anh. Oh, not you, it’s your younger brother.
→ à₁ marks a quick correction after realization.
[4] – À, vì vậy mà anh không đến. Oh, so that’s why you didn’t come.
→ à₁ shows that the explanation now makes sense.
à₁ vs à₂
– à₁: realization or understanding – à₂: light response or acknowledgment
[5a] – À, tôi hiểu rồi. Oh, I understand now.
[5b] – À, chào anh. Hi / Oh, hello. (response, not realization)
à₁ vs ồ
– à₁: quiet realization, confirmation – ồ: stronger surprise or amazement
[6a] – À, ra là vậy. Oh, I see.
[6b] – Ồ, đẹp quá! Wow, it’s so beautiful!
• à₁ usually appears at the beginning of the sentence.
• The tone is natural and conversational, not emotional or dramatic.
• à₁ is very common in spoken Vietnamese.
• à₁ should not be used to show strong surprise or excitement. In those cases, other words (like ồ, ơ) are more appropriate.
• À, + clause
– À, tôi nhớ ra rồi. Oh, I remember now.
• À + vậy / à + ra
– À vậy. Oh, I see.
– À, ra là anh ở đây. Oh, so you’re here.
à₁ is small, but it does an important job: it lets the listener hear the exact moment when understanding clicks into place.