Definition

1. Noun:
   • Hyphen: A short horizontal line (-) used to connect the parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a transliterated foreign word or geographical name.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Từ "Việt Nam" trong tiếng Anh thường được viết có gạch nối: "Viet-Nam". (The word "Việt Nam" in English is often written with a hyphen: "Viet-Nam".)
  • Bạn nhớ dùng gạch nối để nối các từ trong cụm từ "mười tám-tuổi". (Remember to use a hyphen to join the words in the phrase "eighteen-year-old".)
  • Trong phiên âm, "Pa-ri" có một gạch nối. (In transliteration, "Pa-ri" has one hyphen.)

Advanced Usage

• In compound adjectives: Used to link words that function together as a single adjective before a noun.
  • Đây là một quyết định vào phút chót (last-minute decision). (This is a last-minute decision.)
• In word division: Used at the end of a line to indicate that a word continues on the next line.
  • Từ "đường sắt" quá dài, có thể ngắt với gạch nối: đường- sắt. (The word "đường sắt" is too long; it can be broken with a hyphen: đường- sắt.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dấu gạch ngang (n): Dash – A longer horizontal line (—) used for different purposes, such as indicating a pause or setting off parenthetical information, not for joining words.
• Dấu nối (n): Alternative term for hyphen, less common but synonymous.

Synonyms

• Dấu nối: Hyphen (literally "joining mark").

Related Phrases

• Có gạch nối (adj): Hyphenated – Describes a word or name written with a hyphen.
  • "Áo-xanh" là một từ có gạch nối. ("Áo-xanh" is a hyphenated word.)
• Bỏ gạch nối (v): To unhyphenate – To remove a hyphen from a word.
  • Xu hướng hiện đại là bỏ gạch nối trong nhiều từ ghép. (The modern trend is to unhyphenate many compound words.)

Notes on Usage

• The primary function of a gạch nối is to join elements to form a single unit or to show syllable breaks in transliteration. It is distinct from the longer dấu gạch ngang (dash).
• Its use can change over time; some hyphenated compounds become single words (e.g., instead of ).

noun

1. hyphen