Definition

1. Noun:
   • A lane or alley: A narrow public pathway, smaller than a street, within a village, neighborhood, or urban area, often providing access to houses.
   • A gateway or entrance: An opening or gate leading from a public lane into the courtyard or compound of a house. This usage is now somewhat literary or regional.

Usage Examples

• Noun (lane/alley):
  • Nhà tôi ở trong một cái ngõ nhỏ. (My house is in a small lane.)
  • Trẻ con chơi đá bóng ở đầu ngõ. (The children play soccer at the end of the alley.)
• Noun (gateway):
  • Ông ấy đứng chờ ở cổng ngõ. (He stood waiting at the gate.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "ngõ" often implies a sense of community and local, intimate space, contrasting with the larger, more public "đường" (street/road).
• In idiomatic expressions, "ngõ" can metaphorically represent a means of access or a solution.
  • Tìm mọi ngõ để giải quyết vấn đề. (To try every avenue to solve the problem.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngõ cụt (n): A dead-end alley or cul-de-sac.
  • Xe không vào được vì đó là ngõ cụt. (The car can't go in because it's a dead end.)
• Đường ngang ngõ tắt (idiomatic phrase): Shortcuts and small lanes; refers to using all possible minor routes or indirect methods.

Synonyms

• Alley: A narrow street or passageway between buildings.
• Lane: A narrow road, especially in a rural area or a narrow street between buildings.
• Pathway: A track or way for walking.
• Gate (for the entrance meaning): A point of entry.

Related Idioms

• Trong nhà chưa tỏ, ngoài ngõ đã hay: Literally, "Inside the house, it's not yet clear, but outside the lane, they already know." It means a family's private matters are unknown to the family itself but are already gossip in the neighborhood. Similar to "It's all over town."
• Hết ngõ nói: Literally, "to have no more lane to speak." It means to be at a complete loss for words or to have no further argument; the situation is beyond discussion.

noun

1. gate