Definition

1. Noun:

   • Surrounding area, vicinity, neighborhood: Refers to the space or region that encircles or is adjacent to a central point or location.
   • Context, circumstances: Can refer to the general conditions or factors related to a situation or topic.

2. Preposition:

   • Around, about, concerning: Used to indicate the central subject or the physical area that something encircles.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Chung quanh làng rất yên tĩnh. (The area around the village is very peaceful.)
  • Chúng tôi khảo sát khu chung quanh. (We surveyed the surrounding neighborhood.)

• Preposition:

  • Mọi người ngồi chung quanh bàn. (Everyone sat around the table.)
  • Cuộc thảo luận xoay chung quanh vấn đề môi trường. (The discussion revolved around the environmental issue.)

Advanced Usage

• "Xung quanh" vs. "Chung quanh": These are largely interchangeable synonyms. "Xung quanh" is slightly more common in modern Northern Vietnamese, while "chung quanh" is used universally.

  • Anh ấy nhìn chung quanh/xung quanh một lượt. (He looked all around.)

• Used to imply peripheral details or context:

  • Bài báo chỉ đề cập đến những vấn đề chung quanh. (The article only mentions the peripheral issues.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vùng chung quanh / Vùng xung quanh (n.phr.): The surrounding region/area.

  • Vùng chung quanh thủ đô rất phát triển. (The area surrounding the capital is very developed.)

• Chung quanh đây (adv.phr.): Around here.

  • Chung quanh đây có nhiều nhà hàng ngon. (There are many good restaurants around here.)

Synonyms

• Xung quanh (n., prep.): Around, surrounding. (The most direct synonym)
• Phía ngoài (n.): The outside area.
• Vòng ngoài (n.): The outer ring/circle.

Related Phrases

• Quanh chung quanh (adv.): All around, everywhere in the vicinity. (Emphatic form)
  • Cô ấy tìm quanh chung quanh mà không thấy chìa khóa. (She looked all around but couldn't find the keys.)

Related Idioms

• Đầu Ngô mình Sở: (Literally: Head in Ngô, body in Sở) This idiom describes a state of confusion or being distracted, not paying attention to one's immediate surroundings. It contrasts with the focused awareness implied by being attentive to what is "chung quanh."
  • Nó đang đầu Ngô mình Sở, chẳng để ý gì đến chung quanh cả. (He's totally distracted and not paying any attention to his surroundings.)

noun

1. Surrounding area, neighbourhood
   • chung quanh làng có lũy tre bao bọc
     there is a bamboo enclosure in the surrounding area of (around) the village
   • từ nối
     About
   • thu thập tài liệu chung quanh một vấn đề
     to gather materials about a question
   • dư luận xôn xao chung quanh cái tin ấy
     there was a stir in public opinion about that piece of news