mà₆ is used in spoken Vietnamese to link sentences smoothly in conversation, often when the speaker continues talking, adds a new point, or reacts to what the listener just said. It does not add a clear logical meaning by itself; instead, it helps speech sound natural and connected.
With mà₆, the speaker is saying: “I’m continuing” or “Let me add something.”
[1] – Tôi cũng muốn đi. Mà₆ hôm nay đông người quá. I also want to go. But today it’s very crowded.
→ mà₆ links the second sentence naturally to the first.
[2] – Mai tôi rảnh. Mà₆ chắc là buổi chiều. I’m free tomorrow. Probably in the afternoon.
→ The speaker adds information casually.
[3] – A: Anh không đi à? B: Không. Mà₆ trời mưa nữa. A: You’re not going? B: No. And it’s raining too.
→ mà₆ helps the reply sound natural and conversational.
[4] – Em ăn cơm chưa? Mà₆ hôm nay em về trễ à? Have you eaten? By the way, are you home late today?
→ mà₆ makes the topic change smoother.
mà₆ vs và
– mà₆: spoken, loose connection – và: clear addition
[5a] – Tôi mệt. Mà₆ còn nhiều việc nữa. I’m tired. And there’s still a lot of work.
[5b] – Tôi mệt và còn nhiều việc nữa. I’m tired and there’s still a lot of work.
mà₆ vs nhưng
– mà₆: conversational linking – nhưng: clear contrast
[6a] – Tôi muốn đi. Mà₆ hôm nay bận. I want to go. But today I’m busy.
[6b] – Tôi muốn đi, nhưng hôm nay bận. I want to go, but today I’m busy.
mà₆ vs thì
– mà₆: keeps conversation flowing – thì: marks topic or contrast
[7a] – Tôi không biết. Mà₆ anh hỏi ai? I don’t know. Who are you asking?
[7b] – Tôi thì không biết. As for me, I don’t know.
• mà₆ usually appears at the beginning of a sentence.
• It is extremely common in spoken Vietnamese.
• mà₆ does not have a fixed translation in English.
• In writing, mà₆ is often removed or replaced with clearer connectors.
• Overusing mà₆ in formal contexts sounds unnatural.
• Sentence. Mà₆ + sentence.
– Tôi không đi. Mà₆ cũng không ai rủ. I’m not going. And no one invited me anyway.
• Often used after pauses, fillers, or responses:
– Ừ. Mà₆… – À. Mà₆…
• Common in casual dialogue and storytelling.
mà₆ is the glue of spoken Vietnamese: small, light, and essential for natural flow.