Definition

1. Verb (colloquial, rare):
   • To speak; to say; to talk. An informal and somewhat archaic verb meaning to utter words. It often carries a dismissive or rhetorical nuance, implying there is nothing more to be said or that speech is pointless in a given situation.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trượt rồi, còn ngôn gì nữa! (You failed, so what is there left to say!)
  • Thế thì còn ngôn gì nữa! (Well, that's the limit! / Then there's nothing more to talk about!)

Advanced Usage

• This word is primarily found in fixed, proverbial expressions or used for emphatic, colloquial effect. Its standalone use as a common verb for "to speak" is very rare in modern Vietnamese.
• "ngôn dị hành nan": Easier said than done. (A classical, literary phrase).
• "ngôn hành bất nhất": One's words and actions do not match; to be inconsistent.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngôn ngữ (n): Language. This is the common modern word derived from "ngôn".
• Ngôn từ (n): Diction; wording; choice of words.

Synonyms

• Nói: To say, to speak (the standard, common verb).
• Phát biểu: To state, to declare (more formal).
• Thốt ra: To utter (to say something).

Related Idioms

• Ngôn bất xuất khẩu: Words should not leave one's mouth; to be careful about what one says.
• As noted above, "ngôn dị hành nan" and "ngôn hành bất nhất" are classical idioms preserved in the language.