nghe mang máng
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- To hear vaguely / to hear indistinctly: Refers to hearing something in an unclear, imprecise, or incomplete manner, often catching only the general idea or a faint sense of the information.
- To hear through the grapevine / to hear a rumor: Describes hearing information indirectly, not from an official or direct source, implying the content may be unverified or based on hearsay.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Tôi chỉ nghe mang máng về vụ việc đó. (I only heard vaguely about that incident.)
- Anh ấy nghe mang máng rằng công ty sắp có thay đổi. (He heard through the grapevine that the company is about to have changes.)
- Đừng tin tưởng vào những gì bạn nghe mang máng. (Don't trust what you hear indistinctly.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a lack of reliable detail or certainty. It is used when the speaker wants to emphasize that their knowledge is second-hand, incomplete, or not fully accurate.
- Quyết định vẫn chưa chính thức, mọi người chỉ nghe mang máng thôi. (The decision isn't official yet; people have only heard vague rumors.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nghe phong thanh (v): This is a direct synonym, also meaning to hear a rumor or to get wind of something.
- Tôi nghe phong thanh anh sắp đi nước ngoài. (I heard a rumor that you are going abroad soon.)
Synonyms
- To hear vaguely: To perceive sound or information without clarity.
- To hear a rumor: To receive unverified information from an indirect source.
- To get wind of something: To hear a piece of information, especially a rumor or secret, indirectly.
Related Idioms
- Tin đồn thất thiệt: A false or groundless rumor. This is often the result of information that is only "nghe mang máng."
- Đó chỉ là tin đồn thất thiệt từ những kẻ nghe mang máng. (That's just a false rumor from those who heard vague talk.)