Breakdown of Cậu từng tráng men lọ chưa?
chưa
yet
cậu
you (informal, peer)
từng
(experiential marker: ever; once)
lọ
the jar
Questions & Answers about Cậu từng tráng men lọ chưa?
What does cậu mean here, and is it the same as bạn?
Cậu means you, but it is informal. It is commonly used:
- between friends
- with someone around your age
- sometimes toward someone younger, depending on relationship
It is not the most neutral choice in every situation.
Compared with bạn:
- bạn = more neutral and widely usable
- cậu = more personal, casual, and relationship-based
So Cậu từng tráng men lọ chưa? sounds like you are asking a friend or someone you are on familiar terms with.
What does từng do in this sentence?
Từng marks past experience. In English, it often corresponds to ever or have done before.
So:
- từng làm = have done before
- từng đi = have been / have gone before
- từng tráng men lọ = have glazed a jar before
In this sentence, từng tells you the question is about whether the person has had that experience at any time in the past.
Why is chưa at the end? Doesn’t chưa usually mean not yet?