mấy nỗi
Definition
Adverbial phrase:
- Not much / Not many: Used to indicate a small, insignificant, or negligible quantity or amount of something.
- Not long: Used to indicate a short, brief, or insignificant duration of time.
Adverbial phrase (rhetorical/emphatic):
- What's the big deal? / It's nothing much: Used to downplay the importance, value, or difficulty of something, often in a dismissive or rhetorical manner.
Usage Examples
Adverbial phrase (quantity):
- Nhà này giá mấy nỗi. (This house doesn't cost much.)
- Đồ ăn còn mấy nỗi mà tiếc. (There's not much food left, why be stingy with it?)
Adverbial phrase (duration):
- Đồ này chẳng được mấy nỗi. (This item won't last long.)
- Anh ấy chỉ làm ở đây mấy nỗi thôi. (He only worked here for a little while.)
Adverbial phrase (rhetorical):
- Việc ấy mấy nỗi mà lo. (That matter is nothing to worry about.)
- Thắng hắn thì có mấy nỗi. (Beating him is no big deal.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in negative or dismissive contexts to minimize the significance of a subject. It can carry a connotation of something being trivial, cheap, fleeting, or easy.
- It is frequently paired with words like "chỉ" (only), "chẳng" (not), or "có" (have) to reinforce the sense of insignificance.
- Chuyện đó có mấy nỗi đâu. (That story/issue is of little consequence.)
Variants and Related Words
- Mấy: An interrogative/indefinite word meaning "how many/much" or "a few." "Mấy nỗi" is a fixed idiomatic phrase derived from this.
- Đáng là bao: A similar phrase meaning "not worth much" or "what's it worth."
Synonyms
- Not much / Not many: A small amount or number.
- Insignificant: Too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.
- Brief / Short-lived: Lasting for a very short time.
- Trivial: Of little value or importance.
Related Idioms
- Tiêu như phá mấy nỗi: To spend money extravagantly as if it were nothing.
- Cậu ấy tiêu tiền như phá mấy nỗi. (He spends money as if it grows on trees / as if it's nothing.)