TheVietnameseword "ké" is a verbthathasa fewrelated meanings, primarilyrevolvingaroundtheidea of contributing or sharing in someway. It is commonlyused in informal contexts.
BasicMeaning:
ToContribute or Share: "Ké" oftenmeanstocontribute a smallamount of money or efforttowards a sharedexpense or situation. Forexample, whensomeone is goingsomewhereandyouask if you can jointhemandsharethecost, youmightuse "ké."
Usage Instructions:
"Ké" is oftenusedwhenyouwanttojoinsomeone in a situation, especiallywhen it involvessharing costs.
It is informalandtypicallyusedamongfriends or acquaintances.
Example:
Điké xe: Thisphrasemeans "tocatch a ride" or "toget a lift." It impliesthatyouaresharing a ridewithsomeoneandcontributingtothecost of transportation.
AdvancedUsage:
"Ké" can also be used in contextsbeyondtransportation. Forinstance, if youarejoining a groupfor a mealandyouwanttosharethebill, youmight say thatyouwantto "ké" forthemeal, meaningyouwanttocontributeyourpart.
Word Variants:
Thereare no directvariants of "ké," but it can be combinedwithotherwordstocreatephrases (like "điké").
Different Meanings:
While "ké" primarilyrevolvesaroundsharing or contributing, it can alsoimplytakingadvantage of a situationwithoutcontributingmuch. In some contexts, it may carry a slightlynegativeconnotation if someone is seen as always "kê" withoutgivingback.
Synonyms:
"Chia sẻ" (toshare): This is a moregeneraltermforsharingthat may notnecessarilyinvolvemoney.
"Góp" (tocontribute): This is oftenused in moreformal contexts, especiallywhendiscussingcontributionsto a fund or organization.
Additional Notes:
Be mindful of thecontext in whichyouuse "ké." It is informaland may not be appropriate in veryformal situations.
Whenusing "ké," it’s generallyassumedthattheotherperson is okay withyoujoining in andcontributing, so it’s goodtoaskfirst!