Definition

Adverb: - Little by little; gradually; bit by bit: Describes an action or process that happens slowly, in small increments, or over an extended period, often with a sense of getting by or managing day by day.

Usage

• "Lần hồi" is used to describe a slow, gradual progression or a way of living that proceeds from one day to the next, often implying a modest, hand-to-mouth, or patient existence. It emphasizes the incremental nature of an action or state over time.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Anh ấy lần hồi trả hết nợ. (He paid off the debt little by little.)
  • Gia đình họ sống lần hồi qua ngày. (Their family gets by day by day.)
  • Cô ấy lần hồi học hết quyển sách. (She gradually read through the entire book.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sống lần hồi": To live from hand to mouth; to get by day by day.
  • Sau trận lũ, nhiều người dân phải sống lần hồi nhờ viện trợ. (After the flood, many people had to get by day by day on aid.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lần (verb): To feel one's way; to grope; to do something slowly and carefully.
  • Lần theo bức tường. (To feel one's way along the wall.)
• Lần lần (adverb): Gradually; slowly (similar to "lần hồi" but can be more neutral, less focused on "getting by").
  • Cơn đau lần lần dịu đi. (The pain gradually subsided.)
• Dần dần (adverb): Gradually; step by step (a more common and general synonym).
• Từ từ (adverb): Slowly; gradually (often used for actions done with care).

Synonyms

• Dần dà (adverb): Gradually; over a long period (literary or formal).
• Từng bước một (phrase): Step by step.
• Chầm chậm (adverb): Slowly.

Notes on Meaning

• The word often carries a connotation of hardship, patience, or a lack of abundance, especially in the common phrase "sống lần hồi." It describes managing life or a task with limited resources, one small step at a time.
• It is distinct from simply "slowly" (chậm); it inherently includes the concept of progression over a sequence of time or events.

1. little by little; gradually