hôm rày
Definition
- Adverb:
- Recently, lately, these past days: "hôm rày" indicates a period of time extending from a point in the recent past up to the present moment. It is used to describe actions, events, or states that have been occurring or have occurred during this recent timeframe.
Usage
- "Hôm rày" is used to refer to a recent, often unspecified, stretch of days. It is synonymous with "dạo này" or "mấy hôm nay" but can feel slightly more literary or regional. It typically modifies verbs or entire clauses to set the temporal context.
- It is commonly placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Hôm rày trời mưa nhiều quá. (It has been raining a lot lately.)
- Hôm rày tôi bận, không ghé thăm được. (I have been busy recently, so I couldn't visit.)
- Công việc hôm rày có tiến triển gì không? (Has there been any progress with the work lately?)
Advanced Usage
- "Hôm rày" vs. "Gần đây": While both mean "recently," "hôm rày" often implies a continuous or repeated state/action over the past few days, whereas "gần đây" can refer to a single recent event. "Hôm rày" is also more common in Southern Vietnamese speech.
- Hôm rày anh ấy hay về muộn. (He has been coming home late lately.) [Emphasizes a pattern]
- Gần đây tôi có gặp cô ấy một lần. (I met her once recently.) [Refers to a specific event]
Variants and Related Words
- Dạo này (adv): Lately, these days. A very common synonym.
- Mấy hôm nay (adv): These past few days. More colloquial.
- Mấy bữa nay (adv): These past few meals/days. Very colloquial, common in Southern Vietnam.
- Thời gian gần đây (n phrase): The recent period.
Synonyms
- Gần đây: Recently.
- Dạo gần đây: Lately.
- Mới đây: Just recently (often for a single event).
Related Phrases
- Hôm rày hôm hổm: A rhyming phrase emphasizing "a while back, some days ago," often referring to the recent past but not necessarily continuing to the present. It can imply "the other day."
- Hôm rày hôm hổm tôi có nhắc đến chuyện đó rồi. (I mentioned that matter the other day.)