Definition

1. Verb:
   • To stroll / to take a walk: The primary meaning of "dạo chơi" is to walk in a leisurely, relaxed manner, often for pleasure or relaxation, without a specific urgent destination.
   • To go for an outing / to go out for recreation: It implies going out to enjoy oneself, to visit a place like a park or the city center for enjoyment and leisure.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng tôi thích dạo chơi trong công viên vào buổi chiều. (We like to stroll in the park in the afternoon.)
  • Cuối tuần, gia đình tôi thường dạo chơi ở phố cổ. (On weekends, my family often goes for an outing in the old quarter.)
  • Họ đang dạo chơi bên bờ hồ. (They are strolling by the lake.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "dạo chơi" inherently carries a relaxed, pleasant connotation. It is not used for walking with a serious purpose, such as commuting or exercising vigorously.
• It can be used with various locations to indicate where the leisurely walk is taking place.

Variants and Related Words

• Đi dạo (v): to go for a walk, to stroll. This is a very common synonym.

  • Bà ấy đi dạo mỗi sáng. (She goes for a walk every morning.)

• Dạo quanh (v): to wander around, to stroll around a general area.

  • Chúng tôi dạo quanh khu chợ. (We wandered around the market area.)

• Thư giãn (v): to relax. This is a related concept but not a direct synonym for the activity of walking.

Synonyms

• Stroll: to walk in a leisurely way.
• Promenade: to take a leisurely walk in a public place.
• Saunter: to walk in a slow, relaxed manner.

Related Idioms

• Dạo chơi ngắm cảnh: to stroll and enjoy the scenery.

  • Mọi người dạo chơi ngắm cảnh trên cầu. (People strolled and enjoyed the scenery on the bridge.)

• Dạo bước: to take steps, to walk (often poetic or formal for strolling).

  • Ông ấy dạo bước một mình trong vườn. (He walked alone in the garden.)