Learn Hardcore Vietnamese: Tôi rất mệt.

Vietnamese typically omits the copula (“to be”) when linking a subject directly to an adjective. In English you say “I am tired,” but in Vietnamese you simply say Tôi rất mệt without adding là or any other verb.

What role does rất play here?

rất is an adverb meaning “very.” It modifies the adjective mệt to intensify it: rất mệt = “very tired.”

What part of speech is mệt?

mệt is an adjective meaning “tired.” It describes the state or condition of the subject.

How do you pronounce Tôi rất mệt?

Approximate IPA transcription:
• Tôi /toj˧/ (mid‐level tone)
• rất /zɜt˧˥/ (high‐rising tone)
• mệt /mjɛt˨˩/ (low‐glottal tone)
Together: /toj˧ zɜt˧˥ mjɛt˨˩/.
In casual phonetic English you might hear “toy zut myet” with a rising tone on “zut” and a low, brief tone on “myet.”

Can you drop Tôi and just say Rất mệt?

In informal speech, you might hear (Tôi) rất mệt with Tôi omitted if context makes the subject clear. However, omitting Tôi can sound abrupt or incomplete in many situations.

What other pronouns could I use instead of Tôi?

Depending on formality and relationship:
• Mình rất mệt – casual, friendly
• Tớ rất mệt – very informal, among close friends
• Anh rất mệt / Chị rất mệt – when speaking as a younger person to an older male/female, respectively

How do I ask “Are you very tired?” in Vietnamese?

Add không at the end (turns statement into yes/no question):
Bạn rất mệt không?
Or with có for “do/does”:
Bạn có rất mệt không?

How do I make Tôi rất mệt negative?

Place không before the adjective or after the verb placeholder “có”:
• Tôi không mệt. – “I am not tired.”
• Tôi không quá mệt. – “I’m not too tired.”
• Tôi không mệt lắm. – “I’m not very tired.”

Are there other, more colloquial ways to express being very tired?

Yes, for example:
• Tôi mệt lử. – “I’m exhausted.”
• Tôi mệt chết đi được. – “I’m tired to death.”
• Chán chết! – literally “bored/tired to death,” colloquial for being fed up or very tired.