Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Never; not in a million years; not on your life: An emphatic expression used to strongly deny a possibility, assert that something is absolutely impossible, or express a firm refusal. It conveys a sense of incredulity or strong conviction.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Đời nào tôi lại quên được chuyện đó! (Never in a million years could I forget that!)
  • Anh ấy nói sẽ đến, nhưng đời nào anh ta đến đúng giờ. (He said he would come, but there's no way he'll be on time.)
  • Đời nào tôi lại đi lừa dối bạn bè chứ! (I would never deceive my friends! / Not on your life would I deceive my friends!)

Advanced Usage

• "Không đời nào!": A common standalone exclamation meaning "No way!", "Absolutely not!", or "Not a chance!".
  • A: "Mượn tôi 100 triệu nhé?" B: "Không đời nào!" (A: "Lend me 100 million, will you?" B: "No way!")
• "Có đời nào...": Often used at the beginning of a rhetorical question to emphasize that something is unthinkable.
  • Có đời nào cha mẹ lại không thương con chứ? (How could parents ever not love their children? / It's impossible for parents not to love their children.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đời đời kiếp kiếp: For eternity; forever and ever. (Emphasizes a very long, unending duration).
• Muôn đời: Forever; for all eternity. (Similar to "đời đời kiếp kiếp").
• Chẳng đời nào: A variant with the same meaning as "không đời nào" or "đời nào". (Never; no way).
  • Chẳng đời nào tôi chấp nhận điều đó. (I will never accept that.)

Synonyms

• Không bao giờ: Never.
• Tuyệt đối không: Absolutely not.
• Chẳng bao giờ: Never (similar to "không bao giờ").

Related Phrases

• "Đời nào có chuyện đó!": An exclamation meaning "That's impossible!" or "Such a thing could never happen!".
  • Đời nào có chuyện đó! Anh ta là người trung thực nhất mà tôi biết. (That's impossible! He's the most honest person I know.)

Related Idioms

• "Đời nào... thì...": A structure used to create a strong conditional denial, meaning "If [scenario] ever happened, then...". It's often used to complete a thought that underscores the impossibility of the initial scenario.
  • Đời nào nó thi trượt thì tôi đi đầu xuống đất. (If he ever fails the exam, I'll walk on my hands. [Implies it's impossible for him to fail]).

adv

1. never
   • không đời nào
     not on your life!