thôi is used when the speaker signals stopping, ending, or giving up on an action or idea. It marks a decision to not continue and often carries a tone of acceptance, resignation, or gentle closure.
With thôi, the speaker brings something to an end — an action, a discussion, or an intention.
[1] – Thôi, tôi không đi nữa. Alright, I’m not going anymore.
→ The speaker has decided to stop or cancel the plan.
[2] – Thôi, nói vậy đủ rồi. That’s enough, let’s stop talking about it.
→ thôi closes the topic.
[3] – Thôi, cảm ơn anh. No, thank you.
→ thôi softens the refusal and keeps it polite.
[4] – Thôi đi, đừng cãi nữa. Stop it, don’t argue anymore.
→ thôi expresses a request to end the action.
thôi vs đừng
– thôi: stop or give up – đừng: negative command (don’t)
[5a] – Thôi, tôi làm một mình được rồi. It’s okay, I’ll do it myself.
[5b] – Đừng làm một mình. Don’t do it alone.
thôi vs nữa
– thôi: ending – nữa: continuation or addition
[6a] – Thôi, không hỏi nữa. Alright, I won’t ask anymore.
[6b] – Hỏi nữa đi. Ask again.
thôi vs mà₄
– thôi: closing or calming – mà₄: emotional complaint
[7a] – Thôi, bỏ qua đi. Let it go.
[7b] – Sao anh làm vậy mà₄! Why did you do that?!
• thôi often appears at the beginning of a sentence, but can also appear after the subject.
• It is extremely common in spoken Vietnamese.
• Tone matters: thôi can sound gentle, firm, or dismissive depending on intonation.
• thôi should be used carefully with elders or superiors if it sounds dismissive.
• Thôi + clause
– Thôi, để mai làm. Let’s do it tomorrow.
• Verb + thôi
– Ăn thôi. Let’s eat / That’s enough eating.
• Common fixed expressions:
– thôi đi (stop it) – thôi được rồi (that’s enough) – thôi bỏ qua đi (let it go)
thôi is the verbal brake of Vietnamese: soft, firm, and deeply human.