cơ hồ
Definition
- Adverb:
- Almost; nearly; practically: Used to indicate that something is very close to being the case or to a certain state, but not completely so. It expresses a high degree of approximation.
- As if; seemingly: Used to describe a situation that gives the appearance or impression of being true, often in a comparative or metaphorical sense.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Căn phòng cơ hồ trống rỗng. (The room was almost empty.)
- Cô ấy cơ hồ như đã khóc. (She seemed as if she had been crying.)
- Công việc cơ hồ đã hoàn thành. (The work is nearly finished.)
Advanced Usage
- "cơ hồ như": This is a common reinforcing phrase meaning "almost as if", "seemingly like", or "practically". It strengthens the comparative or approximative sense.
- Trời tối, cơ hồ như đang là nửa đêm. (It was dark, almost as if it were midnight.)
- Anh ta im lặng, cơ hồ như không nghe thấy gì. (He was silent, seemingly as if he heard nothing.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hầu như (adv): almost, nearly. This is a more common and modern synonym in everyday language.
- Hầu như mọi người đều đồng ý. (Almost everyone agrees.)
Synonyms
- Almost: very nearly.
- Nearly: very close to being or happening.
- Practically: virtually; almost.
- Seemingly: from appearances alone; as if.
Related Idioms
Cơ hồ không thể: almost impossible.
- Nhiệm vụ này cơ hồ không thể hoàn thành đúng hạn. (This task is almost impossible to complete on time.)
Cơ hồ là: it is almost that...; it is practically the case that...
- Lời nói của anh ấy cơ hồ là một lời thú tội. (His words were practically a confession.)