Definition

1. Adjective (Colloquial):
   • Half-finished; incomplete; left undone: Describes a task, action, or state that has been started but not completed, stopping at a midpoint.
   • Halfway; in the middle of: Indicates being at a point partway through a process, journey, or period of time.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Công việc này vẫn còn dở chừng. (This job is still half-finished.)
  • Câu chuyện của họ kết thúc một cách dở chừng. (Their story ended in an incomplete manner.)
  • Chúng tôi dừng lại ở một ngôi làng dở chừng đường lên núi. (We stopped at a village halfway up the mountain road.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract concepts like plans, relationships, or development that are incomplete or suspended.
  • Một cuộc cải cách dở chừng. (A half-implemented reform.)
  • Giấc mơ dở chừng. (An unfulfilled dream.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dang dở (adj): unfinished, incomplete (often with a stronger connotation of being abruptly stopped or left in a regrettable state).
  • Bức thư viết dang dở. (An unfinished letter.)
• Nửa chừng (adv, adj): halfway, midway (similar meaning, can be slightly more formal than "dở chừng").
  • Bỏ cuộc nửa chừng. (To quit halfway.)

Synonyms

• Unfinished: not brought to an end.
• Incomplete: lacking some part.
• Halfway: at or to a point midway.
• Abandoned: left incomplete or deserted.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bỏ dở chừng: to leave something unfinished; to abandon halfway.
  • Anh ấy bỏ dở chừng việc học. (He abandoned his studies halfway through.)
• Dở chừng dở dang: (reduplicative for emphasis) completely incomplete; in a thoroughly unfinished state.
  • Căn nhà xây dở chừng dở dang. (The house was left in a completely unfinished state.)

1. (khẩu ngữ) Half-way through
   • Làm dở chừng
     To be half-way through a job