mà₁ is used to mark a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or is true. It highlights a mismatch: the listener might expect one thing, but reality turns out differently.
With mà₁, the speaker draws attention to this contrast and often adds a light emotional tone such as surprise, complaint, or explanation.
[1] – Trời nóng mà₁ anh mặc áo khoác. It’s hot, but you’re wearing a jacket.
→ Normally, people do not wear a jacket when it’s hot. mà₁ highlights this unexpected situation.
[2] – Tôi học nhiều mà₁ vẫn không hiểu. I studied a lot, but I still don’t understand.
→ The expected result of studying a lot is understanding. mà₁ shows that this expectation is not met.
[3] – Anh nói không thích cà phê mà₁ ngày nào cũng uống. You say you don’t like coffee, but you drink it every day.
→ mà₁ exposes a contradiction between words and actions.
[4] – Tôi gọi cho anh hoài mà₁ anh không bắt máy. I kept calling you, but you didn’t pick up.
→ mà₁ adds a feeling of dissatisfaction or complaint.
mà₁ vs nhưng
– mà₁: spoken, natural, often emotional – nhưng: more neutral, more formal
[5a] – Tôi mệt mà₁ vẫn đi làm. I’m tired, but I still go to work.
[5b] – Tôi mệt, nhưng vẫn đi làm. I’m tired, but I still go to work.
→ Both are correct. mà₁ sounds more conversational.
mà₁ vs chứ₁
– mà₁: contrast between expectation and reality – chứ₁: correction of an assumption
[6a] – Tôi học nhiều mà₁ không nhớ. I studied a lot, but I don’t remember.
[6b] – Tôi nhớ chứ₁, đâu có quên. I do remember; I didn’t forget.
mà₁ vs thì
– mà₁: highlights contradiction – thì: organizes topic and comment
[7a] – Tôi mệt mà₁ vẫn đi. I’m tired, but I still go.
[7b] – Tôi thì mệt. As for me, I’m tired.
• mà₁ usually appears between two clauses.
Correct: ✓ Tôi muốn đi mà₁ trời mưa.
Incorrect: ✗ Mà₁ tôi muốn đi trời mưa.
• mà₁ is very common in spoken Vietnamese and informal writing.
• The emotional tone depends on context and intonation. It can express surprise, frustration, explanation, or mild complaint.
• mà₁ should not be used for pure logical contrast in formal writing. In those cases, nhưng is more appropriate.
• Clause A + mà₁ + clause B
– Anh biết rồi mà₁ vẫn hỏi. You already know, but you still ask.
• Verb / adjective + mà₁ + vẫn…
– Trời mưa mà₁ vẫn đông người. It’s raining, but it’s still crowded.
• Often used with words showing persistence or contrast:
– vẫn (still) – hoài / mãi (repeatedly)
mà₁ captures a very human way of speaking: it lets Vietnamese speakers say, “This doesn’t line up with what we expect — and that matters.”