chắc

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕak̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕak̚˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [cak̚˦˥]

chắc • (聀, 仄, 𢟘, 職, 礩)

1. (of a structure) firm; secure; steady
2. (of a person) sure; certain; positive

   Chắc hông?

   Are you sure?

   Chắc mà!

   I'm certain!

chắc • (聀, 仄, 𢟘, 職, 礩)

1. (after a verb) firmly; securely

   nắm chắc ― to have a firm grip

2. (after a verb) surely; certainly; for sure

   biết chắc ― to know for sure

3. (at the start of a clause) probably; maybe

   Chắc nó không đến đâu.

   I don't think he's coming.

   Chắc chẳng có ai ở nhà.

   Maybe nobody's home.

chắc

1. (colloquial) Marks a rhetorical question, often with an indignant tone

   Synonym: à

   Nó tưởng nó ngon lắm chắc?

   He really thinks he's all that, huh?

   Tưởng có tiền thì muốn làm gì thì làm chắc?

   They think they can get away with anything just because they have money?

• As a particle, chắc carries a harsher tone than the nearly synonymous à.

Cognate with Arem cak ("each other").

chắc • (聀)

1. (Central Vietnam) each other, one another

   Synonym: nhau

   Tụi bay cứ đánh chắc đập chắc hoài!

   Y'all fight all the time!