Definition

1. Noun:
   • Hyphen: A short horizontal punctuation mark (-) used to join words or parts of words together, or to indicate a word break at the end of a line.

Usage

• The hyphen is used to connect compound words (e.g., ), to join prefixes to words in certain cases (e.g., ), or to write numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
• It is also used to divide a word at the end of a line when the word doesn't fit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Từ "well-known" có một dấu nối. (The word "well-known" has a hyphen.)
  • Khi viết, đôi khi bạn cần dùng dấu nối để nối hai từ lại. (When writing, you sometimes need to use a hyphen to join two words.)
  • Hãy kiểm tra xem từ này có cần dấu nối không. (Please check if this word requires a hyphen.)

Advanced Usage

• Suspended hyphen: Used in a series of hyphenated compounds sharing a common base word.
  • Ví dụ: "two- and three-story buildings". (Example: "two- and three-story buildings.")
• Hyphen in compound modifiers: Used before a noun to clarify meaning.
  • Ví dụ: "a high-speed train" (một chuyến tàu cao tốc). (Example: "a high-speed train.")

Variants and Related Words

• Gạch nối: Another common Vietnamese term for "hyphen."
• Dấu gạch ngang (Em dash — or En dash –): These are longer dashes used for different purposes (e.g., indicating a pause or a range) and are distinct from the hyphen.

Synonyms

• Trait d'union: The French term for hyphen, sometimes used in Vietnamese contexts.
• Nối: While this is the verb "to connect," it is related to the function of the punctuation mark.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Có dấu nối: Hyphenated.
  • Đây là một từ có dấu nối. (This is a hyphenated word.)
• Thiếu dấu nối: Missing a hyphen.
  • Lỗi chính tả phổ biến là thiếu dấu nối trong từ ghép. (A common spelling mistake is missing a hyphen in a compound word.)

1. Hyphen