Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Word by word, one word at a time: Describes the manner of speaking or answering in a very deliberate, slow, or hesitant way, uttering each word separately and distinctly, often with pauses in between.

Usage

• "gióng một" is used to modify verbs related to speech, such as "nói" (to speak) or "trả lời" (to answer). It emphasizes a slow, measured, or sometimes reluctant delivery.
• It often implies the speech is not fluent, possibly due to careful thought, nervousness, lack of knowledge, or unwillingness to elaborate.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Cậu bé trả lời gióng một vì quá lo lắng. (The boy answered word by word because he was too nervous.)
  • Ông ấy nói gióng một, như thể đang đọc từ một văn bản khó. (He spoke one word at a time, as if reading from a difficult text.)
  • Đừng nói gióng một như vậy, hãy kể câu chuyện một cách tự nhiên. (Don't speak so haltingly like that, tell the story naturally.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nói gióng một": This is the most common collocation, meaning "to speak word by word" or "to speak in a halting manner."
• "Trả lời gióng một": This phrase specifically means "to give one-word answers" or "to answer in monosyllables," indicating brief, unelaborated responses.

Variants and Related Words

• Từng tiếng một: A near-synonymous phrase meaning "each sound/word one by one." It can be used interchangeably with "gióng một" in many contexts.
• Ngập ngừng (adj/adv): Hesitant, haltingly. Describes speech marked by pauses and uncertainty.
• Chậm rãi (adj/adv): Slowly, leisurely. Can describe slow speech but without the connotation of hesitation inherent in "gióng một."

Synonyms

• Từng từ một: Word by word.
• Rời rạc: Disconnected, disjointed (when describing speech).
• Ngắt quãng: Interrupted, broken (when describing speech flow).

Related Phrases

• Nói cộc lốc: To speak curtly or bluntly. While also brief, this implies rudeness rather than just slowness.
• Nói lắp bắp: To stammer or stutter. Focuses on speech disfluency due to repetition or blocks, not deliberate slowness.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning emphasizes the segmentation of speech into isolated words. It can describe:
  • Careful articulation: Speaking clearly for emphasis or clarity.
  • Hesitant speech: Due to emotion, searching for words, or lack of confidence.
  • Reluctant or minimal answers: Giving the shortest possible response, often in an interview or interrogation context ("trả lời gióng một").

1. Word by word
   • Nói gióng một
     To speak word by word
   • Trả lời gióng một
     To give one-word answers