Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Almost, nearly: Indicates that something is very close to being a certain way or to happening, but not completely or exactly. It expresses a high degree of approximation.
   • Virtually, practically: Suggests that for all practical purposes, something is the case, even if not technically 100% true.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Công việc đã hầu như hoàn thành. (The work is almost finished.)
  • Cô ấy hầu như không bao giờ đến muộn. (She almost never arrives late.)
  • Căn phòng hầu như trống rỗng. (The room is practically empty.)
  • Sau trận bão, thị trấn hầu như bị phá hủy hoàn toàn. (After the storm, the town was virtually destroyed.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hầu như + không + Verb": This structure emphasizes the near absence or extreme rarity of an action. It translates to "hardly," "scarcely," or "almost not."
  • Anh ấy hầu như không nói gì trong cả buổi họp. (He hardly said anything during the entire meeting.)
• "Hầu như + là + Noun/Adjective": Used to strongly qualify a noun or adjective, meaning "it is almost the case that..."
  • Đó hầu như là một phép màu. (That was practically a miracle.)
  • Họ hầu như là người nước ngoài duy nhất ở đó. (They were virtually the only foreigners there.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gần như: A very close synonym, also meaning "almost" or "nearly." The two are often interchangeable.
  • Tôi gần như quên mất cuộc hẹn. (I almost forgot the appointment.)
• Suýt (nữa) thì: Used specifically for events that very nearly happened but did not, often with negative consequences avoided. It translates to "almost," "nearly," or "was on the verge of."
  • Tôi suýt (nữa) thì bị ngã. (I almost fell.)

Synonyms

• Phần lớn: For the most part, mostly (focuses on a large proportion rather than near-totality).
• Đại để, đại khái: Roughly, approximately, in general terms (focuses on approximation rather than closeness to a limit).

Related Phrases

• Hầu hết: This is a different word meaning "most (of)" or "the majority of." Do not confuse with hầu như.
  • Hầu hết mọi người đều đồng ý. (Most people agree.)
  • Compare: Hầu như mọi người đều đồng ý. (Almost everyone agrees.)

1. Almost