mà₂ is used when the speaker gives an explanation or justification for what was just said. It answers an implicit “why?” from the listener, often to clarify, defend, or soften a statement.
With mà₂, the speaker is not contrasting ideas, but adding a reason so the statement makes sense.
[1] – Tôi không đi được, mà₂ hôm nay tôi bận. I can’t go, because I’m busy today.
→ The second part explains why the speaker cannot go.
[2] – Không phải tôi không muốn giúp, mà₂ tôi không có thời gian. It’s not that I don’t want to help; it’s because I don’t have time.
→ mà₂ introduces the real reason and softens the refusal.
[3] – Tôi không quên đâu, mà₂ tôi chưa làm xong. I didn’t forget; I just haven’t finished yet.
→ The speaker feels a need to explain and protect their position.
[4] – Anh ấy về sớm rồi, mà₂ mai còn phải đi làm sớm. He went home early, because he has to work early tomorrow.
→ mà₂ provides background that makes the action reasonable.
mà₂ vs vì
– mà₂: conversational, explanatory, often reactive – vì: direct, neutral cause
[5a] – Tôi không đi được, mà₂ tôi mệt. I can’t go; I’m tired.
[5b] – Tôi không đi được vì tôi mệt. I can’t go because I’m tired.
→ [5a] sounds more like spoken explanation after a statement.
mà₂ vs mà₁
– mà₁: contrast with expectation – mà₂: reason or justification
[6a] – Tôi học nhiều mà₁ vẫn không hiểu. I studied a lot, but still don’t understand.
[6b] – Tôi không hiểu, mà₂ bài này khó quá. I don’t understand because this lesson is very hard.
mà₂ vs nên
– mà₂: explains after the fact – nên: focuses on result
[7a] – Tôi không đi, mà₂ trời mưa. I didn’t go because it was raining.
[7b] – Trời mưa nên tôi không đi. It rained, so I didn’t go.
• mà₂ usually comes after a statement, introducing an explanation.
• It is very common in spoken Vietnamese, especially in responses.
• The clause before mà₂ can sound abrupt without it; mà₂ makes speech feel more polite and complete.
• mà₂ should not be used to introduce strong logical arguments in formal writing.
• Intonation matters: mà₂ often has a slightly explanatory or defensive tone.
• Statement, mà₂ + reason
– Không phải tôi không muốn, mà₂ tôi không thể. It’s not that I don’t want to; I just can’t.
• Often used with negative or corrective forms:
– không phải… mà₂… – đâu có… mà₂…
• Common with emotional or softening words:
– tại vì… mà₂… – tại… mà₂…
mà₂ helps Vietnamese speakers say: “Let me explain so this makes sense.”