lúc đó

lúc đó

Lúc đó, tôi đang đọc sách trong thư viện.

Definition
  1. Adverb:
    • At that time, then: Refers to a specific point in the past or future being discussed. It indicates a moment simultaneous with the event being described.
    • At that moment: Emphasizes the immediacy or coincidence of an event with another referenced point in time.
Usage Examples
  • Adverb:
    • Lúc đó, tôi còn rất trẻ. (At that time, I was very young.)
    • Anh ấy hứa sẽ gọi lại. Lúc đó, chúng ta có thể thảo luận chi tiết. (He promised to call back. At that point, we can discuss the details.)
    • Cô ấy đang bận. Lúc đó, tôi không muốn làm phiền cô ấy. (She was busy. At that moment, I didn't want to disturb her.)
Advanced Usage

  • Used to sequence events in narration: Often appears in stories or explanations to clarify when something happened relative to another event.

    • Tôi gặp anh ấy năm 2010. Lúc đó, anh ấy vừa tốt nghiệp đại học. (I met him in 2010. At that time, he had just graduated from university.)

  • Used in conditional or hypothetical contexts: Can refer to a future "then" based on a preceding condition.

    • Nếu trời mưa, chúng ta sẽ ở trong nhà. Lúc đó, chúng ta có thể chơi cờ. (If it rains, we will stay indoors. At that point, we can play chess.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Lúc này (adv): At this time, now.

    • Lúc này, tôi đang làm việc. (At this moment, I am working.)

  • Lúc ấy (adv): Synonymous with "lúc đó," meaning "at that time." Slightly more literary.

    • Lúc ấy, trời đã tối. (At that time, it was already dark.)

  • Khi đó (adv): When that happened, at that time. Very similar in meaning and usage.

    • Khi đó, chúng tôi chưa biết sự thật. (At that time, we didn't know the truth.)
Synonyms
  • Hồi đó (adv): Back then, in those days (usually for a more distant or extended past period).
  • Vào thời điểm đó (phrase): At that point in time (more formal).
Related Phrases

  • Ngay lúc đó (adv): Right at that moment (emphasizes immediacy).

    • Chuông điện thoại reo ngay lúc đó. (The phone rang right at that moment.)

  • Cho đến lúc đó (phrase): Until that time.

    • Cho đến lúc đó, mọi thứ vẫn ổn. (Until that time, everything was still fine.)