Definition

1. Adverb:
   • At that period; at that time: Refers to a specific, past period of time, often used to begin a recollection or narrative about events that occurred then.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Dạo ấy, chúng tôi còn rất trẻ. (At that time, we were still very young.)
  • Dạo ấy, thành phố này chưa có đường cao tốc. (At that period, this city didn't have a highway.)
  • Thời tiết dạo ấy thật dễ chịu. (The weather at that time was very pleasant.)

Advanced Usage

• "Dạo ấy" vs. "Hồi ấy": Both mean "at that time," but "dạo ấy" can imply a slightly more extended or indefinite period in the past, while "hồi ấy" often refers to a more specific, contained past moment or event.
  • Dạo ấy, tôi thường hay đi dọc bờ biển. (Back in that period, I used to walk along the coast.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hồi ấy (adv): at that time (often for a specific past event).

  • Hồi ấy, tôi mới lên năm. (At that time, I was only five.)

• Thuở ấy (adv): in those days, at that time (literary or poetic, often for a distant past).

  • Thuở ấy, đời sống thật bình yên. (In those days, life was very peaceful.)

Synonyms

• At that time: During a specific past period.
• Back then: Informal for in the past.
• In those days: Refers to a past era.

Related Idioms

• Dạo ấy... bây giờ...: A common contrasting structure meaning "Back then... but now..." used to highlight change over time.
  • Dạo ấy anh hay cười, bây giờ trầm tính hẳn. (Back then you laughed often, but now you are much more quiet.)

adverb

1. at that period; at that time