hòng
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To intend / to aim: To have a purpose or plan to achieve a desired goal.
- To expect / to hope (often in a negative or doubtful sense): Used to express an expectation, typically one that is unrealistic or unlikely to be fulfilled.
Adverb (less common):
- About to / nearly: Indicates that something is on the verge of happening or is almost at a certain point.
Usage Examples
Verb (to intend/aim):
- Hắn nịnh bợ hòng được thăng chức. (He flatters others, intending to get a promotion.)
- Nó nói dối hòng che giấu sự thật. (He lied, aiming to hide the truth.)
Verb (to expect/hope - often negative):
- Đừng hòng tôi giúp đỡ kẻ vô ơn. (Don't expect me to help an ungrateful person.)
- Nó hòng lừa được tôi sao? (Does he really expect to fool me?)
Adverb (about to/nearly):
- Công việc đã hòng xong. (The work is nearly finished.)
- Đã hòng tới giờ khởi hành. (The departure time is about to come.)
Advanced Usage
- "hòng" as a Conjunction: Often used to introduce a clause of purpose, meaning "in order to" or "with the aim of". It is typically placed after the main action.
- Cô ấy làm việc cật lực hòng trả hết nợ. (She works tirelessly in order to pay off all her debts.)
Variants and Related Words
- Mong hòng (v): A reinforced form meaning "to hope/expect", emphasizing desire.
- Hắn chỉ mong hòng được hưởng thụ. (He only hopes to enjoy himself.)
Synonyms
- Intend / Aim: To plan or mean to do something.
- Expect (negatively): To regard something as likely to happen, often used when that expectation is unfounded.
- Nearly / About to: Very close to happening.
Related Idioms and Phrases
Đừng hòng: A common imperative phrase meaning "Don't you dare expect..." or "Don't even think about...".
- Đừng hòng ta tha thứ cho ngươi. (Don't you dare expect my forgiveness.)
Hòng chi / Hòng gì: A rhetorical question meaning "What is the point of hoping/expecting?".
- Việc đã thế rồi, hòng chi thay đổi? (Things are already like this, what's the point of hoping for a change?)
- Intend, aim; expect
- Đừng hòng học một ngoại ngữ trong một tuầnYou can't axpect to learn a foreign language in a week.
- (ít dùng) About, nearly
- Đã hòng hết nămThey year is about to finish; the year is nearly at its end