Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Busy, occupied: Having a lot of tasks or work to do; not free.
   • Engaged, in use: Describing a device, like a phone line, that is currently occupied.
   • Worried, preoccupied: Having one's mind occupied by concerns.

2. Verb:

   • To wear, to put on (clothing): To have clothing on one's body. (This usage is more common in Southern Vietnam).

3. Noun:

   • Time, occasion, instance: A specific occurrence or moment in a sequence of events. (This usage is literary or formal).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Tôi rất bận ngày mai. (I am very busy tomorrow.)
  • Đường dây máy đang bận. (The phone line is engaged.)
  • Cô ấy luôn bận tâm về tương lai. (She is always worried about the future.)

• Verb:

  • Trời lạnh, con nên bận áo ấm. (It's cold, you should wear a warm shirt.)

• Noun:

  • Mỗi bận đến thăm, ông ấy đều mang quà. (Each time he visits, he brings gifts.)

Advanced Usage

• "bận rộn": Very busy, bustling.

  • Mùa lễ hội, phố phường thật bận rộn. (During the festival season, the streets are very bustling.)

• "bận tâm" / "bận lòng": To be worried or concerned about something.

  • Đừng bận tâm về chuyện nhỏ đó. (Don't worry about that small matter.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bận bịu (adj): Tied up, swamped with work or trivial matters.

  • Công việc gia đình khiến cô ấy bận bịu cả ngày. (Housework keeps her tied up all day.)

• Bận việc (adj): Busy with work.

  • Anh ấy bận việc nên không đi ăn tối được. (He is busy with work so he can't go to dinner.)

Synonyms

• Busy: Occupied with activity.
• Engaged: In use; occupied.
• Wear: To have clothing on.
• Occasion: A particular time or instance.

Related Idioms

• Bận trăm công nghìn việc: To be swamped with a thousand and one tasks; to be extremely busy.

  • Dịp Tết, các bà nội trợ bận trăm công nghìn việc. (During Tet, housewives are swamped with a thousand and one tasks.)

• Việc người thì sáng, việc mình thì quáng / Bận người thì sáng, bận mình thì quáng: (Proverb) Literally "Others' affairs are clear, one's own affairs are blinding." It means it's easy to give clear advice to others but hard to see solutions for one's own problems.

noun

1. Time
   • bảo bận này hay bận khác
     to tell this time (for someone) to draw experience for another time

verb

1. To put on, to wear

adj

1. Over head and ears in, busy, engaged
   • bận trăm công nghìn việc
     over head and ears in a thousand and one jobs
   • bận dọn dẹp cửa nhà
     over head and ears in putting one's house in order
   • máy đang bận
     the machine is fully engaged, the line is engaged
2. Worried, causing worries
   • bận tâm
     to worry