Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Current at that time, contemporary (to a past period): Refers to something existing, occurring, or characteristic of a specific period in the past being discussed.
   • Of that era, then-current: Describes ideas, trends, people, or objects that were present or prevalent during a given historical time.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Những phong tục tập quán đương thời. (The customs and practices current at that time.)
  • Ông ấy là một nhà văn nổi tiếng đương thời. (He was a famous writer contemporary to that era.)
  • Tư tưởng đương thời khác xa so với ngày nay. (The then-current ideology was very different from today's.)

Advanced Usage

• Used primarily in historical, literary, or analytical contexts to describe the context of a past period. It is not typically used to describe the present moment (for which "đương đại" is more common).
  • Phân tích bối cảnh chính trị đương thời của sự kiện. (Analyze the political context contemporary to the event.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đương đại (adj): Contemporary, modern (referring to the present era).
  • Văn học đương đại (Contemporary literature)
• Cùng thời (adj): Contemporaneous, existing at the same time (often used for people).
  • Họ là những nhà khoa học cùng thời. (They were scientists of the same period.)
• Thời đó (phrase): At that time, back then (a more general phrase).

Synonyms

• Đương thời (adj): Cùng thời, thuộc về thời đó (contemporaneous, of that time).
• Hiện hành (adj): Current, in effect (but often implies present-day, not past).

Notes on Meaning

• Historical Focus: "Đương thời" almost always points to a past context relative to the speaker's present. It means "contemporary" from the viewpoint of the historical period being discussed.
• Not for Present Day: To discuss the present era, "đương đại" or "hiện nay" is used. Using "đương thời" for the present can sound archaic or incorrect.
  • Correct: Phong cách kiến trúc đương thời thế kỷ 19. (The architectural style contemporary to the 19th century.)
  • Incorrect (for present): Công nghệ đương thời rất phát triển. (Use "đương đại" or "hiện nay" instead.)

1. Current at that time
   • Những phong tục tập quán đương thời
     Customs and practices current at that time