Vietnamese

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 退 (SV: thối, thoái).

For the tonal correspondence, see other post-reconstructed Old Chinese, pre-Middle Chinese loans such as bèn, buôn, chung, cùng, where words with Vietnamese A/bằng tones correspond to Qieyun system tone C/去聲去声 (qùshēng). Particularly compare đôi (pair), which exhibits the exact same correspondence in the rime as with thôi.

Alternative forms

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  • (Nẫu) thâu
  • (Internet slang, text messaging) thui

Noun

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thôi (, , , )

  1. a long while

Verb

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thôi (, , , )

  1. to stop (forever); to cease; to discontinue; to quit
    • 1957, Đoàn Giỏi, chapter 2, in Đất rừng phương Nam, Kim Đồng Publishing House:
      Thấy tôi không muốn nói, bà ta cũng thôi không hỏi.
      Seeing that I didn't want to tell, she also stopped asking.
Derived terms
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Derived terms

Interjection

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thôi (, , , )

  1. Used sentence-initially to express a polite negative: that's it; enough

Particle

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thôi (, , , )

  1. (colloquial, used sentence-finally) that's all; merely; only; just
  2. (colloquial, used sentence-initially) introduces a new statement that contradicts previously stated statement(s)

Usage notes

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(particle):

  • As a particle used initially in sentences, thôi is often used with and thì, as mà thôi and thôi thì.
  • Also, when used as a sentence-initial particle, the sentence-final particles đi and thôi ("that's all; merely; only") are usually utilized to clarify the quantity mentioned in the new statement compared to the previous statement:
    Thôi cho hai phần đi.
    On second thought, I want to order two portions (I originally ordered just one portion).
    Thôi cho hai phần thôi.
    On second thought, I want to order two portions (I originally ordered three or more portions).

(pronunciation):

  • Colloquially, thôi is one of the instances where aspirated stops sometimes shift into just /h/ in Vietnamese, so that thôi is pronounced as hôi. Compare also hông (from không).
  • Sometimes deliberately spelled thui to convey informality on the Internet although the word is rarely (if ever) pronounced as such in real life. Compare rùi (from rồi).

Etymology 2

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This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Possibly a Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese (SV: thoái), not sure though.”

Verb

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thôi

  1. to discolour