Thôi — Enough, just, stopping and narrowing a choice

What you will learn

Thôi is extremely common and does not have one fixed English translation. At Beginner level, focus on a few everyday uses: stop, enough, only/just this, and closing a choice.

1. Thôi! — stop / enough

In a suitable context:

Thôi!

This can mean something like “stop”, “enough” or “that’s enough”. Tone matters greatly.

2. Được rồi, thôi

Được rồi, thôi.

Depending on the situation, the speaker may be closing an action or saying that no more is needed.

3. Một cái thôi

• Một cái thôi.
• Một ly thôi.
• Một chút thôi.

Here thôi narrows the amount: only one, just one glass, just a little.

4. Cái này thôi

In a shop:

Cái này thôi.

The speaker chooses only this item / says this is enough.

5. Tôi uống nước thôi

Tôi uống nước thôi.

Depending on context, this can mean “I’ll just have water” or “I only drink/have water”.

Context determines whether the meaning is a current choice or a broader restriction.

6. Không cần đâu, thôi

You may hear thôi when declining more of something or closing an offer:

Thôi, đủ rồi.

B87 will later focus on refusing without being too direct. Here you only learn how thôi can participate in ending or limiting an action.

7. Thôi nhé

Thôi nhé.

Depending on context, this can help close a conversation or action in a softer, relational way.

The combination shows why particles work together rather than each having a single dictionary meaning.

8. Vậy thôi

Vậy thôi.

This can mean “that’s all / just that” in context.

Vậy points to what has been said or decided; thôi limits/closes it.

9. Chỉ...thôi

• Tôi chỉ hỏi thôi.
• Em chỉ xem thôi.

Chỉ...thôi explicitly frames something as only/just that.

At Beginner level, recognize the pattern; a fuller lesson on focus/restriction can come later.

10. A short conversation at a café

Nhân viên: Anh dùng thêm gì không?

Khách: Không, cà phê thôi.

Nhân viên: Dạ.

Here thôi closes the choice: coffee only, nothing more.

11. Tone can make thôi gentle or sharp

A quiet thôi can gently close something. A loud Thôi! can sound like a strong command to stop.

Do not judge the word without its tone and situation.

12. Do not translate mechanically

Depending on context, English may use:

• stop;
• enough;
• only;
• just;
• that’s all;
• never mind.

These are possible translations in different situations, not a definition list to substitute automatically.

13. Useful patterns

• Thôi!
• Một ... thôi.
• Cái này thôi.
• ... thôi.
• Chỉ ... thôi.
• Vậy thôi.

14. Common beginner mistakes

• Memorizing thôi = only and missing its stopping/closing uses.
• Using a sharp Thôi! when a gentle refusal is intended.
• Ignoring tone.
• Assuming every occurrence needs a separate English word in translation.

Try it

1. Say that you want only one item.
2. Say “this one only” in a shop.
3. End an offer because you have enough.
4. Give one example where thôi means stopping rather than “only”.

Quick recap

Thôi can stop, limit, close or narrow an action/choice. Its exact effect comes from the sentence, tone and situation—not from one fixed English equivalent.