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Questions & Answers about Cậu rảnh không?
What does cậu mean here?
Cậu is a Vietnamese pronoun used for you in certain relationships.
In Cậu rảnh không?, cậu means you, but it is not universal like English you. It is typically used:
- among friends
- between people of similar age
- sometimes in a familiar, casual tone
It can also mean other things in other contexts, such as maternal uncle, so pronouns in Vietnamese always depend on context.
Is cậu polite? Can I say this to anyone?
No. Cậu is casual and relationship-dependent.
You would usually use it:
- with friends
- classmates
- people around your age
- someone you are on familiar terms with
You would normally not use cậu:
- with strangers in formal situations
- with older people unless the relationship makes it appropriate
- with superiors in professional contexts
If you want a safer, more neutral version, learners often use bạn:
- Bạn rảnh không?
That sounds more broadly usable, though Vietnamese pronouns are still very context-sensitive.
What does rảnh mean exactly?