cho đang
Definition
Adverb phrase: - To be worth the trouble/effort; to be deserving of such concern or attention: Used to express that something is not sufficiently good, important, or significant to justify the effort, worry, or action being considered. It often implies a negative assessment, meaning "not worth it" or "not up to the standard required."
Usage
- "Cho đang" is used to negate the value or worthiness of a subject in relation to a preceding action, emotion (like worry, admiration), or effort. It typically follows a rhetorical question or a negative statement.
- Structure: Often used in patterns like "Có... gì cho đang?" (What is so... about it that makes it worth it?) or "Không... gì cho đang" (It's not... enough to be worth it).
Usage Examples
- (What is so beautiful about that scenery that it's worth the trouble?)
- (That job has low pay, it's not attractive enough to be worth it.)
- (He's not so skilled that we need to worry about him.)
Advanced Usage
- Implied Comparison: The phrase often carries an implied comparison to an unstated standard of value or expectation. The speaker suggests the subject falls short.
- Rhetorical Device: It is frequently used as a rhetorical question to strongly express disbelief or to dismiss something as unworthy.
- Nó có tài năng gì cho đang mà được khen ngợi nhiều thế? (What talent does he have that's worth all this praise?)
Variants and Related Words
- "Cho xứng": To be worthy of, to deserve (often used more positively than "cho đang").
- Phải cố gắng cho xứng với sự kỳ vọng. (Must strive to be worthy of the expectations.)
- "Đáng": To be worth, to deserve. This is a more common and neutral adjective.
- Việc đó không đáng lo. (That matter is not worth worrying about.)
Synonyms
- Không đáng: Not worth, not deserving.
- Chẳng bõ: Not worth the effort (colloquial).
- Chẳng xứng: Not worthy, not befitting.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- "Chẳng có gì cho đáng": A common variant with the same meaning as "cho đang."
- Chuyện nhỏ ấy, chẳng có gì cho đáng bàn.(That's a small matter, nothing worth discussing.)
- The core idiom is the phrase "cho đang" itself, which functions as a set expression for evaluating worthiness.