mà₄ is used when the speaker expresses complaint, annoyance, or strong emotion, often at the end of a sentence. It adds emotional weight, showing that the speaker is bothered, frustrated, or protesting a situation.
With mà₄, the speaker is not giving new information. They are reacting emotionally to what has happened or what was just said.
[1] – Đông người quá mà₄! It’s so crowded!
→ mà₄ shows irritation or discomfort.
[2] – Tôi có làm gì đâu mà₄! I didn’t do anything!
→ The speaker feels wrongly blamed and reacts emotionally.
[3] – Sao lại bắt tôi chờ lâu thế mà₄? Why are you making me wait so long?!
→ mà₄ strengthens the feeling of unfair treatment.
[4] – Đừng có nói thế mà₄! Don’t say that!
→ The speaker pushes back emotionally.
mà₄ vs mà₁
– mà₁: contrast between expectation and reality – mà₄: emotional reaction or complaint
[5a] – Tôi gọi anh hoài mà₁ anh không nghe. I kept calling, but you didn’t answer.
[5b] – Tôi có gọi anh đâu mà₄! I didn’t call you!
mà₄ vs đấy
– mà₄: complaint, annoyance – đấy: warning or emphasis
[6a] – Tôi không thích đâu mà₄. I really don’t like it!
[6b] – Tôi không thích đâu đấy. I don’t like it, you know.
mà₄ vs nhé
– mà₄: emotional, often negative – nhé: soft, friendly
[7a] – Đừng đi trễ nữa mà₄! Don’t be late anymore!
[7b] – Đừng đi trễ nữa nhé. Please don’t be late anymore.
• mà₄ usually appears at the end of the sentence.
• It is very common in spoken Vietnamese and informal contexts.
• The emotion can be annoyance, frustration, protest, or emotional emphasis.
• mà₄ should be avoided in formal or polite writing.
• Intonation is crucial: without emotional tone, mà₄ may sound unnatural.
• Statement + mà₄!
– Tôi không biết gì mà₄! I don’t know anything!
• Question + mà₄?
– Sao lại nói thế mà₄? Why are you saying that?!
• Often used with emotional words:
– đâu (at all) – có… đâu – gì đâu
mà₄ gives Vietnamese speakers a way to say: “This is bothering me, and I need you to hear it.”