Definition

1. Adverb (Interrogative):

   • When (in questions about the future): Used to ask about a specific, often future, point in time. It seeks a time-related answer.
   • When (in indirect questions): Used to refer to an unknown or unspecified time, often in subordinate clauses.

2. Adverb:

   • Ever: Used in questions (often with "chưa" - yet) to ask if an action has occurred at any time in the past up to now.
   • Always / As ever: Used to indicate a constant, unchanging state or habitual action ("vẫn như bao giờ").

Usage Examples

• Adverb (Interrogative):

  • Bao giờ anh ta sẽ đến đây? (When will he come here?)
  • Không biết bao giờ cô ta trở lại. (No one knows when she returns.)

• Adverb:

  • Anh có thấy con sư tử bao giờ chưa? (Have you ever seen a lion?)
  • Anh ta vẫn như bao giờ, không có gì thay đổi. (He is just as ever, he has not changed a bit.)

Advanced Usage

• "bao giờ cũng": always, invariably.
  • Bao giờ cũng thế. (It's always like that.)
• "từ bao giờ": since when; for a long time (emphasizing an indefinite duration).
  • Bảo từ bao giờ mà vẫn chưa làm. (I have told you for the longest time and you still haven't done it.)
• "hơn bao giờ hết": more than ever.
  • Tự tin hơn bao giờ hết. (More confident than ever.)

Variants and Related Words

• Không bao giờ: never.
  • Tôi không bao giờ làm điều đó. (I would never do that.)
• Có bao giờ: Used to form "ever" questions or express doubt about something ever happening.
  • Có bao giờ thấy thế đâu nhỉ? (Has anyone ever seen such a thing?)

Synonyms

• When: at what time (for interrogative use).
• Ever: at any time (used in questions and negative contexts).
• Always: at all times; invariably.

Related Idioms

• Bao giờ cho đến...: An expression setting a condition for a future event, often implying it's unlikely or far off. (When will it be that...)
  • Bao giờ cho đến tháng Mười... (A folk saying beginning "When will it be October...")
• Bao giờ cây cải làm đình...: Part of a folk saying meaning "when pigs fly" or "never".
  • Chuyện đó xảy ra ư? Bao giờ cây cải làm đình... (That will happen? When pigs fly...)

1. When
   • không biết bao giờ cô ta trở lại
     No one knows when she returns
   • bao giờ anh ta sẽ đến đây?
     when will he come here?
   • việc ấy bao giờ xảy ra sẽ hay
     we shall see to it when it happens
2. Ever
   • anh có trễ xe buýt bao giờ chưa?
     Do you ever miss the bus?
   • anh có thấy con sư tử bao giờ chưa?
     have you ever seen a lion?
   • bảo từ bao giờ mà vẫn chưa làm
     I have told you ever since and the job is still undone
   • anh ta vẫn như bao giờ, không có gì thay đổi
     he is just like ever, he has not changed a bit
   • tự tin hơn bao giờ cả