Definition

1. Indefinite quantifier:
   • A few, a couple of, several: Used to indicate a small, indefinite number of things or people, typically more than two but not many. It suggests a modest, approximate quantity.

Usage Examples

• Indefinite quantifier:
  • Tôi sẽ mua đôi ba quyển sách. (I will buy a few books.)
  • Cô ấy có đôi ba người bạn thân. (She has a couple of close friends.)
  • Chúng tôi chờ đôi ba phút rồi. (We've waited several minutes already.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used to soften a statement, making a quantity sound casual, approximate, or modest rather than precise.
  • Anh ấy cũng có đôi ba ý kiến về dự án. (He also has a few thoughts on the project.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đôi (lượng từ): A pair, a couple (often specifically two).

  • một đôi đũa (a pair of chopsticks)

• Vài (lượng từ): A few, some.

  • vài ngày nữa (a few more days)

• Vài ba (lượng từ): Synonymous with "đôi ba," meaning a few.

  • vài ba lần (a few times)

Synonyms

• A few: A small number of.
• A couple of: Two or a small number of.
• Several: More than two but not many.

Related Idioms

• Đôi ba câu chuyện: A few stories or pieces of gossip.

  • Họ ngồi kể cho nhau nghe đôi ba câu chuyện. (They sat and told each other a few stories.)

• Đôi ba lời: A few words.

  • Tôi muốn nói đôi ba lời. (I would like to say a few words.)

1. A few