Definition

1. Adverb:

   • Approximately, roughly, about: Used to indicate an estimated quantity, degree, or extent that is not precise.
   • To a moderate degree, within limits: Used to indicate a measured, moderate, or restrained level of something.

2. Noun:

   • A rough measure, extent, or estimate: Refers to an approximate calculation or assessment.
   • A stage, point, or juncture: Refers to a particular point in a process or period.
   • Eventuality, case, contingency: Refers to a possible situation or circumstance.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • Căn phòng này rộng chừng hai mươi mét vuông. (This room is approximately twenty square meters.)
  • Anh ấy đến chừng ba giờ chiều. (He arrived at about three o'clock in the afternoon.)
  • Hãy ăn uống có chừng. (Please eat and drink in moderation.)

• Noun:

  • Tôi chỉ ước lượng một cách chừng mực. (I only made a rough estimate.)
  • Công việc bị dừng lại nửa chừng. (The work was stopped halfway.)
  • Tưởng chừng như cô ấy sẽ không đến. (It seemed as if she wouldn't come.)

Advanced Usage

• "nói chừng": to speak tentatively or without certainty; to say something as a guess or estimation.

  • Tôi nói chừng thôi, chưa chắc đã đúng. (I'm just making an estimate; it might not be correct.)

• "bắn chừng": to shoot by estimation or without precise aiming.

  • Người lính bắn chừng về phía kẻ địch. (The soldier shot roughly in the direction of the enemy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chừng mực (n): moderation, restraint, proper measure.

  • Cô ấy cư xử rất có chừng mực. (She behaves with great moderation.)

• Chừng như (adv): it seems that, as if.

  • Chừng như trời sắp mưa. (It seems like it's about to rain.)

Synonyms

• Khoảng (adv): about, approximately.
• Độ (n): degree, extent.
• Tưởng như (phrase): to seem as if.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Giữ chừng: to keep within limits, to moderate.

  • Anh phải biết giữ chừng trong chi tiêu. (You must know how to keep spending within limits.)

• Đến chừng: to reach a point/stage.

  • Đến chừng đó thì chúng ta sẽ quyết định. (When we reach that point, we will decide.)

Related Idioms

• Nửa chừng xuân: (Literally: halfway through spring) Used to describe something interrupted or left incomplete, often referring to a young life cut short.

  • Cuộc đời cô ấy dang dở nửa chừng xuân. (Her life was left incomplete in its prime.)

• Dừng chân nửa chừng: to stop halfway; to abandon something before completion.

  • Đừng dừng chân nửa chừng khi mục tiêu đã gần kề. (Don't stop halfway when the goal is near.)

noun

1. Rough measure, rough extent, rough estimate
   • thời tiết thay đổi không chừng
     the weather changes without measure
   • nhà cao chừng ba thước
     a house three meters high by rough measure, a house about three meters high
2. Roughly estimated stage
   • đương chừng niên thiếu
     in the flush of youth
   • dừng lại giữa chừng
     to stop half-way
3. Eventuality, case, contingency
   • khó khăn tưởng chừng không thể vượt qua
     it was thought (as a contingency) that the difficulties were insurmountable
   • nói chừng chứ không biết chắc