Nhưng kỳ lạ thay
/nuŋ˧˦ ki˧˧ laː˧˧ taːj˧˧/
VI
But strangely enough; yet oddly enough
Nhưng kỳ lạ thay, tôi không cảm thấy sợ chút nào.
But strangely enough, I didn't feel scared at all.
Etymology
This is a common Vietnamese idiomatic phrase formed from the conjunction "nhưng" (but), the adjective "kỳ lạ" (strange) and the stative particle "thay" that emphasizes surprise or contrast.
Memory Aid
Break it down: "nhưng" = but, "kỳ lạ" = strange, "thay" marks emphasis -- remember it as "but [emphasized] strange" to get the meaning of surprising oddness.
Collocations
nhưng kỳ lạ thaykỳ lạ thaynhưng kỳ lạ
Synonyms
mà lạ thaynhưng thật lạ
Related Words
kỳ lạlạ lùngstrangely