biết chừng nào
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- How very, how extremely: Used after an adjective in an exclamatory sentence to express a strong degree of emotion or intensity, emphasizing the adjective's quality. It translates to "how very..." or "how extremely..." in English.
Usage
- This phrase is always used after an adjective to intensify it.
- It is used exclusively in exclamatory sentences to express strong feelings like joy, sadness, surprise, or admiration.
- The structure is: [Adjective] + biết chừng nào!
Usage Examples
- (How very happy [I am]!)
- (How extremely sad [it is]!)
- (How very beautiful!)
- (How very content my mother is!)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used in both personal statements (e.g., - How very delighted I am!) and observations about others or situations (e.g., - How very magnificent the scene is!).
- It is a formal and literary construction, often found in writing, speeches, or poetic expressions to convey deep emotion.
Variants and Related Words
- Biết bao: A very close synonym, also meaning "how very" or "how much." It can often be used interchangeably with , though might be slightly more common in some contexts.
- Tốt biết bao! (How very good!)
- Biết mấy: Another synonym with a similar meaning and usage pattern.
- Quý giá biết mấy! (How very precious!)
Synonyms
- Thật là...: Is..., really is... (A simpler intensifier, e.g., - [It] is really happy!)
- Vô cùng: Extremely, immensely (Often used before the adjective, e.g., - extremely happy).
Related Phrases
- Ôi, ... biết chừng nào!: Adding "Ôi" (Oh) at the beginning strengthens the exclamatory emotion.
- Ôi, sung sướng biết chừng nào! (Oh, how very delightful!)
Related Idioms
- While itself is a set phrase, it functions similarly to English exclamatory idioms like "How wonderful!" or "What a joy!" It is the standard structure in Vietnamese for creating such emotional exclamations focused on a quality or state.
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(dùng sau tính từ, trong câu cảm xúc) How very
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hạnh phúc biết chừng nào!how very happy!
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