Definition

1. Verb:

   • To suppose; to assume: To accept something as true or as a basis for reasoning, without having conclusive proof. It involves taking a condition or statement as a given for the purpose of argument or discussion.
   • To hypothesize; to postulate: To propose a tentative explanation or theory that serves as a starting point for further investigation.

2. Adjective:

   • Supposed; assumed; hypothetical: Describes something that is accepted or taken for granted as the basis of an argument, but is not necessarily proven or real. It refers to a conditional or theoretical state.
   • Subjunctive (grammar): Relating to a grammatical mood used to express various states of unreality such as wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred. (Note: This is a specific linguistic term derived from the adjective form.)

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng ta hãy giả định rằng anh ấy nói thật. (Let us assume that he is telling the truth.)
  • Nhà khoa học giả định một mối liên hệ giữa hai biến số. (The scientist hypothesizes a relationship between the two variables.)
• Adjective:
  • Đây chỉ là một tình huống giả định. (This is merely a hypothetical situation.)
  • Trong câu điều kiện, ta thường dùng mệnh đề giả định. (In conditional sentences, we often use a subjunctive clause.)

Advanced Usage

• Legal/Formal Context: Used to establish a theoretical framework or a legal presumption.
  • Tòa án làm việc dựa trên giả định rằng một người vô tội cho đến khi bị chứng minh là có tội. (The court operates on the presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty.)
• Philosophical/Scientific Context: Used to denote a foundational premise.
  • Thuyết tương đối bắt đầu từ vài giả định cơ bản. (The theory of relativity starts from a few basic postulates.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự giả định (n): An assumption; a hypothesis; a supposition.
  • Sự giả định của anh ấy tỏ ra không chính xác. (His assumption proved to be incorrect.)
• Giả thiết (n/v): Often used interchangeably with "giả định" to mean hypothesis or to hypothesize, though it can sometimes imply a more formal scientific hypothesis.
  • Giả thiết nghiên cứu cần được kiểm chứng. (The research hypothesis needs to be tested.)

Synonyms

• Verb: Assume, suppose, postulate, hypothesize, presume.
• Adjective: Hypothetical, supposed, assumed, theoretical, conjectural.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Trên giả định rằng...: On the assumption that...
  • Kế hoạch được lập trên giả định rằng kinh phí sẽ được duyệt. (The plan was made on the assumption that the budget would be approved.)
• Coi như là giả định: To treat something as a given.
  • Để đơn giản hóa, chúng ta coi nhiệt độ không đổi như là một giả định. (To simplify, we treat constant temperature as a given.)

verb

1. to suppose, to assume,

adj

1. supposed ; subjunctive