mà₅ is used when the speaker adds background information about a person or thing that has already been mentioned. It helps the listener understand which one the speaker is talking about, or gives extra descriptive detail.
With mà₅, the information is not the main point. It quietly supports the main message.
[1] – Tôi gặp một người mà₅ anh quen. I met a person that you know.
→ mà₅ adds background information about “a person.”
[2] – Cô ấy là người mà₅ tôi kể hôm qua. She is the person I talked about yesterday.
→ The clause with mà₅ helps identify who “she” is.
[3] – Tôi thích cái áo mà₅ anh mua hôm trước. I like the shirt that you bought the other day.
→ mà₅ narrows down “the shirt.”
[4] – Có một quán cà phê mà₅ tôi hay ngồi học. There’s a café where I often study.
→ The background information makes the story clearer.
mà₅ vs mà₂
– mà₂: explains a reason – mà₅: adds descriptive background
[5a] – Tôi không đi, mà₂ tôi bận. I didn’t go because I was busy.
[5b] – Người mà₅ tôi gặp hôm qua rất dễ thương. The person I met yesterday is very nice.
mà₅ vs đó / này
– đó / này: pointing or emphasizing – mà₅: describing or identifying
[6a] – Người đó rất cao. That person is very tall.
[6b] – Người mà₅ đứng kia rất cao. The person who is standing there is very tall.
mà₅ vs nào
– nào: asking which one – mà₅: specifying which one
[7a] – Anh thích cái áo nào? Which shirt do you like?
[7b] – Tôi thích cái áo mà₅ anh đang mặc. I like the shirt you’re wearing.
• mà₅ comes after a noun, before the extra information.
• It is common in both spoken and written Vietnamese.
• The clause with mà₅ usually cannot stand alone; it depends on the noun before it.
• mà₅ is often omitted in casual speech when the meaning is still clear.
[8] – Cái áo anh mua hôm trước đẹp đó. (The shirt you bought the other day is nice.)
• Noun + mà₅ + clause
– Người mà₅ tôi thích The person I like
• Often used with time or action phrases:
– hôm qua – hôm trước – đang… – hay…
• Very common with people, objects, and places.
mà₅ lets Vietnamese speakers quietly say: “I’m talking about this one — let me give you a bit more context.”