chừ

Thân thiện

Chừ tôi đang đọc sách trong phòng.

Definition

Adverb: - Now, at the present time: A word primarily used in Southern Vietnamese dialects to indicate the current moment or present time. It is equivalent to the standard Vietnamese word "bây giờ".

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Chừ tôi mới hiểu. (Now I understand.)
  • Anh ấy chừ đang ở đâu? (Where is he now?)
  • Chừ là lúc chúng ta phải hành động. (Now is the time for us to act.)

Advanced Usage

• "Từ xưa đến chừ": From the past until now.
  • Công việc từ xưa đến chừ vẫn chưa xong. (The work from the past until now is still not finished.)
• "Đến chừ": By now, until now.
  • Đến chừ nó vẫn chưa đến. (He still hasn't arrived by now.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bây giờ (adv): The standard Vietnamese word for "now". It is universally understood, whereas "chừ" is regional.
• Hiện giờ (adv): At the present time, currently. More formal than "bây giờ".
• Hiện tại (adv/n): Present, currently. Can function as an adverb or a noun.
• Lúc này (adv): At this moment.

Synonyms

• Bây giờ: Now.
• Hiện nay: At present, nowadays.
• Lúc này: At this moment.

Related Idioms

• "Xưa con ta, chừ ra vợ bậu" (Proverb): Literally "In the past, my child; now, a wife/husband." This proverb reflects on how time changes relationships and statuses, using "xưa" (past) and "chừ" (now) for contrast. It implies a person who was once dependent (a child) is now an independent adult with a spouse.

Học thuật

1. Now