Definition

Verb: - To ask for money: The act of requesting or soliciting money from someone. This can range from a simple request to a more insistent or repeated demand.

Usage

This verb describes the direct action of requesting financial payment or funds. It is typically used when someone needs or wants money from another person and explicitly states this request. - The subject is the person asking. - The object (if specified) is the person being asked or the amount of money. - It can be used in both neutral contexts (e.g., a vendor asking for payment) and negative contexts (e.g., begging or extortion).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy hỏi tiền tôi để mua sách. (He asked me for money to buy books.)
  • Đừng hỏi tiền bố mẹ nữa, hãy tự đi làm. (Don't ask your parents for money anymore, go get a job yourself.)
  • Người bán hàng hỏi tiền tôi ngay sau khi tôi lấy đồ. (The vendor asked me for money right after I took the goods.)

Advanced Usage

• "hỏi tiền" với nghĩa đòi nợ: This usage implies asking for money that is owed, such as collecting a debt.
  • Chủ nợ đến hỏi tiền anh ta mỗi tuần. (The creditor comes to ask him for the money [he owes] every week.)
• "hỏi tiền" với sắc thái tiêu cực: Often carries a negative connotation of pestering, begging, or inappropriate demands.
  • Hắn ta chỉ biết đến hỏi tiền mỗi khi gặp tôi. (He only ever comes to ask for money whenever he sees me.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đòi tiền (verb): To demand money. This is stronger and more insistent than "hỏi tiền."
• Xin tiền (verb): To beg for money. This emphasizes the supplication or pleading aspect.
• Yêu cầu thanh toán (verb phrase): To request payment. A more formal, business-oriented term.

Synonyms

• Yêu cầu tiền: To request money (more formal).
• Xin tiền: To beg for money (emphasizes pleading).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As Vietnamese does not have phrasal verbs in the same structure as English, this section lists common verb phrases using "hỏi tiền". - Hỏi tiền lại: To ask for the money back. - Tôi phải hỏi tiền lại từ người bạn đã vay. (I have to ask for the money back from the friend who borrowed it.) - Hỏi tiền trước: To ask for money in advance/upfront. - Anh thợ hỏi tiền trước một nửa. (The worker asked for half the money upfront.)

Related Idioms

• Hỏi tiền như máy: To ask for money incessantly, like a machine. (Implies constant, annoying requests.)
  • Đứa con lười biếng ấy hỏi tiền như máy. (That lazy child asks for money non-stop.)
• Miệng thì hỏi thăm, tay thì hỏi tiền: The mouth asks about well-being, the hand asks for money. (Criticizes someone who pretends to care but actually just wants money.)
  • Cảnh giác với những kẻ miệng thì hỏi thăm, tay thì hỏi tiền. (Beware of people who feign concern but are really after money.)

verb

1. to ask for money