à sao
/aː ˈsao/interjection★Intermediate
informal
Used to ask for the reason or cause of something just mentioned, expressing mild surprise.
Anh vừa rời đi? à sao?
You just left? Oh, why?
💡
Often spoken with a rising intonation at the end.
Collocations
à saooh, why?
Synonyms
Related Phrases
sao?phrase
why?
à, thế sao?phrase
oh, how then?
💡Pro Tip
Intonation
Raise your pitch at the end of "à sao" to convey genuine curiosity rather than sarcasm.
📖Word Origin
Combines the interjection "à" (expressing surprise or attention) with the interrogative "sao" (why). The phrase emerged in colloquial Vietnamese as a quick way to request clarification.
📝Usage Notes
Common in everyday conversation, especially among younger speakers. Usually followed by a brief explanation or answer.
Từ Điển Việt Anh