Definition

1. Verb:
   • To separate, to part ways: "chia tay" primarily means to end a relationship or association, often implying a physical or emotional parting. It is commonly used for romantic breakups.
   • To say goodbye: It can also refer to the act of bidding farewell when leaving someone.
   • (Slang) To split, to divide (spoils, loot): In informal or slang contexts, it means to share or divide something, often something obtained illicitly.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To separate/part ways):

  • Họ đã chia tay sau ba năm yêu nhau. (They broke up after three years of dating.)
  • Công ty chia tay với nhiều nhân viên cũ. (The company parted ways with many old employees.)

• Verb (To say goodbye):

  • Tôi đến đây để chia tay bạn trước khi đi xa. (I came here to say goodbye to you before going far away.)
  • Giây phút chia tay thật khó quên. (The moment of saying goodbye is truly unforgettable.)

• Verb (Slang: To split/share):

  • Bọn trộm chia tay nhau số tiền vừa lấy được. (The thieves split the money they had just stolen among themselves.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chia tay trong êm đẹp": to break up amicably, to part on good terms.

  • Dù không còn yêu, họ vẫn chia tay trong êm đẹp. (Even though they no longer loved each other, they still broke up amicably.)

• "Chia tay tay bắt mặt mừng": (Idiomatic) To part ways but remain on friendly, welcoming terms for future meetings.

  • Chúng tôi chia tay tay bắt mặt mừng, hẹn ngày gặp lại. (We parted on good terms, promising to meet again.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự chia tay (Noun): The separation, the breakup, the farewell.

  • Sự chia tay của họ khiến mọi người ngạc nhiên. (Their breakup surprised everyone.)

• Chia ly (Verb): A more literary or formal synonym for "chia tay," emphasizing separation, often due to fate or circumstance.

  • Chiến tranh khiến nhiều gia đình phải chia ly. (The war caused many families to be separated.)

Synonyms

• Ly dị: To divorce (specifically for a marital relationship).
• Giã từ: To bid farewell (more poetic/literary).
• Từ biệt: To say farewell, to take leave.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Chia tay bạn gái/bạn trai: to break up with a girlfriend/boyfriend.

  • Anh ấy buồn vì mới chia tay bạn gái. (He is sad because he just broke up with his girlfriend.)

• Lời chia tay: farewell words, breakup speech.

  • Cô ấy viết một bức thư dài làm lời chia tay. (She wrote a long letter as her farewell.)

Related Idioms

• "Chia tay nhau ở ngã ba đường": (Literal: to part ways at a crossroads) To go separate ways, to pursue different paths in life.
  • Sau đại học, nhóm bạn thân chia tay nhau ở ngã ba đường. (After university, the close group of friends went their separate ways.)

1. To say good-bye
   • đến chia tay bạn để lên đường
     to come to say good-bye to a friend before leaving
   • phút chia tay đầy lưu luyến
     the good-bye saying moment full of reluctance to part
2. To go shares
   • chia (tay) nhau của ăn cắp
     to go shares in stolen goods