Definition

1. Interrogative pronoun:

   • What: A word used to ask about an unspecified thing, matter, or phenomenon. It is the primary interrogative pronoun for "what" in Vietnamese.
   • Whatever, anything: When used with words like "cũng" (also) or in negative sentences, it means "whatever," "anything," or "nothing."

2. Particle (used after verbs or adjectives):

   • Expressing negation or dismissal: Used to express negation, dismissal, or a rhetorical question, often with a tone of contempt, denial, or emphasis on the insignificance of something.

Usage Examples

• As an interrogative pronoun (What):

  • Đó là cái gì? (What is that?)
  • Anh tên là gì? (What is your name?)
  • Cô ấy nói gì vậy? (What did she say?)

• Meaning "whatever," "anything," or "nothing":

  • Tôi gì cũng ăn được. (I can eat anything. / I eat whatever.)
  • Nó không biết gì cả. (He doesn't know anything. / He knows nothing.)
  • Không có gì đâu. (It's nothing. / Don't mention it.)

• As a particle expressing dismissal or negation:

  • Người gì mà thô lỗ thế! (What kind of rude person is that!)
  • Xa gì đâu, chỉ đi bộ 5 phút thôi. (It's not far at all, just a 5-minute walk.)
  • Anh ấy giàu gì! (He's not rich at all! / What riches does he have!)

Advanced Usage

• "gì đó": something, what is it.

  • Có chuyện gì đó xảy ra. (Something happened.)
  • Đây là cái gì đó? (What is this thing?)

• "bất cứ... gì" / "dù... gì": whatever, no matter what.

  • Dù có chuyện gì xảy ra, tôi cũng sẽ ở bên bạn. (No matter what happens, I will be by your side.)
  • Bất cứ gì bạn cần, hãy nói với tôi. (Whatever you need, tell me.)

• "gì... gì": and so on, et cetera (used informally to list things vaguely).

  • Cửa hàng bán quần áo, giày dép, gì gì đấy. (The shop sells clothes, shoes, and so on.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sao (adv): Why, how (another interrogative word, but for manner or reason).
• Nào (interrogative particle): Which (used in questions about choice).
• Điều gì: What thing (a more formal or specific variant for "what").

Synonyms

• Chi (interrogative pronoun, dialectal/southern Vietnamese): What.
  • Làm chi vậy? (What are you doing?)
• Vật gì / Điều gì: What thing (more formal/literal).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Là gì?: What is it? (Common question structure).
  • Nghĩa của từ này là gì? (What is the meaning of this word?)
• Có gì... không?: Is there anything...? (Common question pattern).
  • Trong túi có gì không? (Is there anything in the bag?)
• Chẳng có gì: There's nothing; It's nothing (common polite expression).
  • Chẳng có gì đáng lo cả. (There's nothing to worry about.)

Related Idioms

• Biết gì đâu!: (I/He/She) doesn't know anything! (Expressing that someone is ignorant of the situation).
  • Nó còn trẻ, biết gì đâu! (He's still young, what does he know!)
• Gì chứ...: As for... (Used to introduce a contrasting or emphatic point).
  • Gì chứ, việc này thì tôi phải giúp. (As for this matter, I must help.)
• Gì cũng được: Anything is fine; Whatever is okay.
  • Ăn gì cũng được. (I'll eat anything. / Anything is fine to eat.)

verb

1. what
   • gì đó?
     What is it?
2. Whatever
   • dẫu có nghe điều gì anh cũng không nên nói
     Whatever you hear, say nothing