kẻo

Friendly

The Vietnamese word "kẻo" is commonly used to mean "if not," "or else," or "otherwise." It is often used to warn someone about a consequence if they do not take a certain action. It emphasizes the importance of doing something to avoid a negative outcome.

Usage Instructions:

• "Kẻo" is typically placed at the end of a clause to indicate a warning or recommendation.
• It is often used in everyday conversations when advising someone about time-sensitive actions or decisions.

Example:

1. Bát phở nóng hổi nên ăn ngay kẻo nguội kém ngon.
   • Translation: "The bowl of soup is steaming hot, eat it at once, otherwise it will get cold and less tasty."
   • In this example, "kẻo" highlights the importance of eating the soup quickly to enjoy it at its best.

Advanced Usage:

• "Kẻo" can also be used in more complex sentences to give warnings about various situations. For example:
  • Cẩn thận không thì sẽ bị ngã kẻo đau.
  • Translation: "Be careful, or else you might fall and get hurt."

Word Variants:

• "Kẻo" can be used interchangeably with "không thì," which also means "otherwise" but may not carry the same urgency.
• In some contexts, "kẻo" can be used with variations like "kẻo mà" to add emphasis.

Different Meanings:

• While "kẻo" mainly conveys a sense of warning, it can also imply a sense of urgency or necessity in different contexts, depending on what is being discussed.

Academic

1. If not, or else, otherwise
   • Bát phở nóng hổi nên ăn ngay kẻo nguội kém ngon
     The bowl of soup is steaming hot, eat it at once otherwise it will get cold and less tastier