Definition

Adjective: - Free of charge, complimentary, gratis: Refers to something provided without requiring payment or cost. It describes goods, services, or access that are given at no financial expense to the recipient.

Usage

• As an adjective: Typically placed before a noun to modify it, indicating the noun is provided without cost.
  • Vé vào cửa được phát miễn phí. (Admission tickets are distributed free of charge.)
  • Đây là dịch vụ wifi miễn phí. (This is a complimentary wifi service.)
• As a predicate adjective: Can follow a linking verb like "là" (to be).
  • Bữa sáng tại khách sạn là miễn phí. (Breakfast at the hotel is free.)

Examples

• (The library provides books free of charge for children.)
• (We received a free sample.)
• (The museum opens for free on Sundays.)

Advanced Usage

• "cho miễn phí" / "cung cấp miễn phí": To give/provide for free.
  • Công ty cho tải phần mềm miễn phí. (The company allows free software downloads.)
• Used in formal and legal contexts to denote exemption from fees.
  • Người cao tuổi được khám bệnh miễn phí. (The elderly are entitled to free medical examinations.)

Variants and Related Words

• Miễn phí vận chuyển (Free shipping): A compound term meaning the cost of delivery is waived.
• Miễn phí bảo hành (Free warranty): Indicates a warranty service provided at no extra cost.
• Phí (n): Fee, charge. The root word that "miễn" (to exempt) negates.

Synonyms

• Không mất tiền: Without losing money (colloquial).
• Cho không: To give away (informal, can imply "for nothing").
• Gratis (from Latin, used in English/Vietnamese contexts): Free, without payment.

Related Phrases

• Được miễn phí: To be exempted from paying; to get something for free.
  • Học sinh được miễn phí tham gia. (Students get to participate for free.)
• Áp dụng chính sách miễn phí: To implement a free-of-charge policy.

Related Idioms

• Của cho không bằng cách cho: (A proverb: The manner of giving is more important than the gift itself.) This idiom highlights attitude, but contextually relates to giving, sometimes freely.
• Bữa trưa không có gì là miễn phí: A direct translation of "There's no such thing as a free lunch," used to convey that things appearing free often have hidden costs.

1. free of charge