Definition

1. Adverb:
   • How very, to what extent (used for emphasis in exclamations): "biết chừng" (often in the form "biết chừng nào") is used after an adjective or verb to form an exclamatory sentence, emphasizing a high degree or intensity of a state or action. It translates to expressions like "how very..." or "to what extent...".

Usage

• Structure: The typical structure is . It is used to create an exclamation.
• Function: It intensifies the adjective or verb it follows, expressing strong emotion such as surprise, admiration, or emphasis.

Usage Examples

• With Adjectives:
  • Hạnh phúc biết chừng nào! (How very happy [I am/they are]!)
  • Đẹp biết chừng nào! (How very beautiful!)
• With Verbs:
  • Nhớ biết chừng nào! (How very much [I] miss [it/you]!)
  • Mong biết chừng nào! (How very much [I] long for [it]!)

Advanced Usage

• "biết chừng" (in a non-exclamatory, literal sense): To know in advance, to be forewarned. This usage is less common in modern spoken Vietnamese but can be found in specific contexts.
  • Anh cho biết anh cần bao nhiêu, để tôi biết chừng. (Tell me how much you need, so I know in advance [what to prepare].)

Variants and Related Words

• Biết: (Verb) To know.
• Chừng: (Noun/Adverb) Extent, degree, measure.
• Biết mấy: A near-synonymous phrase also used for exclamations, meaning "how very", "immensely".
  • Vui biết mấy! (How very joyful!)

Synonyms

• Biết bao: How very, how much (used in exclamations).
• Biết mấy: How very, immensely (used in exclamations).
• Quá, lắm: Very, extremely (simpler intensifiers, but less emphatic than "biết chừng nào").

Related Phrases

• Không biết chừng: An idiomatic phrase meaning "perhaps", "maybe", "it's possible that". It expresses uncertainty.
  • Không biết chừng trời sẽ mưa. (Perhaps it will rain.)
  • Nó không biết chừng đã về rồi. (He might have already returned.)

Notes

• The primary and most frequent use of "biết chừng" in contemporary Vietnamese is in the exclamatory structure .
• The literal meaning of "knowing the extent/measure in advance" is archaic and rarely used in everyday conversation.

1. Know [in advance] what is to be done
2. (biết chừng nào (dùng sau tt, thường trong câu cảm xúc)) How very
   • Hạnh phúc biết chừng nào!
     How very happy!