chẳng kẻo
Definitions
- Conjunction (Literary/Archaic):
- Lest, for fear that, or else (something undesirable might happen): Used to express a warning or caution about a potential negative consequence that should be avoided. It conveys a sense of "if not, then possibly" or "to prevent the risk of."
Usage Examples
- Conjunction:
- Thân con chẳng kẻo mắc tay bợm già. (Lest I myself fall into the hands of an old rogue.)
- Phải cẩn thận chẳng kẻo lạc đường. (Be careful, lest you get lost.)
- Hãy về sớm chẳng kẻo trời tối. (Go home early, for fear that it gets dark.)
Advanced Usage Notes
- Literary and Archaic: "Chẳng kẻo" is primarily found in classical Vietnamese literature, poetry (like "Truyện Kiều" by Nguyễn Du), and proverbs. It is rarely used in modern spoken Vietnamese, where phrases like "kẻo", "để khỏi", or "kẻo mà" are more common with similar meanings.
- Structure: It typically connects a recommended action (or a current situation) with the feared negative outcome. The clause following "chẳng kẻo" states the undesirable event to be prevented.
Variants and Related Words
- Kẻo: (Conjunction) Lest, or else. The modern, more common shortened form.
- Đi nhanh lên kẻo muộn. (Hurry up or else you'll be late.)
- Kẻo mà: (Conjunction) A slightly more emphatic variant of "kẻo".
- Nói nhỏ thôi kẻo mà người ta nghe thấy. (Speak softly lest others hear.)
- Để khỏi: (Phrase) So as not to, in order to avoid.
- Mặc áo ấm để khỏi bị cảm. (Wear warm clothes so as not to catch a cold.)
Synonyms
- E: (Conjunction, literary) Lest, otherwise.
- Nếu không thì: (Phrase) If not, then... (a more neutral modern equivalent for expressing consequence).
Related Phrases/Idioms
- Chẳng kẻo mang tiếng: Lest one brings a bad reputation upon oneself.
- Phải giữ ý tứ chẳng kẻo mang tiếng. (One must be discreet lest one gains a bad reputation.)
- Chẳng kẻo thất lễ: For fear of being impolite.
- Tôi phải đến thăm chẳng kẻo thất lễ. (I must visit lest I be impolite.)