Definition

1. Noun:

   • A time; a moment; an occasion: Refers to a specific point or period in time, often used with a modifier to specify which time.
   • A case; an instance: Used to indicate a particular circumstance or situation.

2. Conjunction:

   • When; while; as: Used to introduce a subordinate clause indicating the time at which the action of the main clause occurs. It connects two events happening simultaneously or specifies a temporal condition.

3. Verb (archaic/rare):

   • To slight; to despise; to look down upon: An older, less common usage meaning to treat with contempt.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy đã giúp tôi trong khi khó khăn. (He helped me in a time of difficulty.)
  • Hãy gọi cho tôi khi cần. (Call me in case of need.)
• Conjunction:
  • Tôi thường đọc sách khi trời mưa. (I often read books when it rains.)
  • Cô ấy đến khi chúng tôi đang ăn tối. (She arrived while we were having dinner.)
• Verb:
  • Đừng khi người nghèo. (Do not despise the poor.) [Archaic usage]

Advanced Usage

• "đôi khi": sometimes; at times.
  • Đôi khi tôi thích ở một mình. (Sometimes I like to be alone.)
• "mọi khi": every time; always.
  • Anh ấy đi làm đúng giờ mọi khi. (He goes to work on time every time.)
• "khi không": for no reason; suddenly.
  • Khi không, cô ấy khóc. (For no reason, she cried.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khi nào (interrogative phrase): When.
  • Khi nào bạn về? (When are you coming back?)
• Lúc (n): A synonym for "khi" as a noun meaning "time" or "moment." Often interchangeable.
  • Tôi sẽ gọi bạn vào lúc khác. (I will call you at another time.)

Synonyms

• Time/Moment (Noun): lúc, thời điểm, dịp.
• When/While (Conjunction): lúc, trong khi, hồi.
• Despise (Verb): khinh, coi thường, khinh thường.

Related Idioms

• Một miếng khi đói bằng một gói khi no: A bite when hungry is worth a package when full. (Meaning: Something small given in a time of urgent need is more valuable than a large gift given when it is not needed.)
• Khi vui muốn khóc, khi buồn muốn cười: When happy, one wants to cry; when sad, one wants to laugh. (Meaning: To describe complex, mixed emotions.)

noun

1. case; time
   • đôi khi
     at times
   • khi cần
     in case of need

adv

1. when; while
   • tôi đi chơi khi cô ta đang học
     I go around while she was studying

verb

1. to slight; to despise