Definition

1. Adverbial phrase:
   • It seems / It appears: Used to express a speaker's impression, assumption, or estimation about a situation, often based on indirect evidence or perception. It indicates a sense of likelihood or probability, but not certainty.

Usage Examples

• Adverbial phrase:
  • Nghe chừng trời sắp mưa. (It seems like it's about to rain.)
  • Nghe chừng cô ấy không hài lòng với kết quả. (It appears she is not satisfied with the result.)
  • Công việc nghe chừng khó khăn hơn chúng tôi tưởng. (The work seems more difficult than we thought.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nghe chừng như": A common variant that functions identically, often translated as "it seems as if" or "it sounds like."
  • Nghe chừng như anh ta đã biết sự thật. (It seems as if he already knows the truth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hình như (adv): Seems like, appears. A more common synonym for expressing uncertainty.

  • Hình như tôi đã gặp anh ở đâu rồi. (I think I've met you somewhere before.)

• Có vẻ như (adv): Looks like, seems as though. Often used for visual or overall impressions.

  • Cô ấy có vẻ như rất mệt. (She looks very tired.)

Synonyms

• It seems: To give the impression of being.
• It appears: To become visible or evident; to seem.
• Apparently: Used to describe something that seems to be true based on what is known.

Related Idioms

• Nghe đâu: It is heard that; rumored that. Used for reporting hearsay.

  • Nghe đâu công ty sắp đóng cửa. (It is heard that the company is about to close.)

• Chừng như: An older or more literary form similar to "nghe chừng."

  • Chừng như ông ấy đã quyết định rồi. (It seems he has already decided.)

1. cũng như nghe như It seems