ngần
Definition
Noun:
- A certain measure or limit: Refers to a specific, often moderate, amount or degree of something.
- A certain quantity or number: Indicates an unspecified but defined amount or portion.
Adverb:
- Only to a certain extent / only so much: Used to indicate limitation, meaning "only this much" or "only that much."
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ăn tiêu có ngần. (Spend with moderation.)
- Chỉ có ngần ấy thôi. (There is only that much / only that amount.)
- Adverb:
- Đọc ngần này trang sách đã mỏi mắt. (Reading only this many pages has made my eyes tired.)
- Cho ngần ấy muối là đủ. (Adding only that much salt is enough.)
Advanced Usage
- "ngần ấy": that much, that many. A common compound used to point to a specific quantity previously mentioned or implied.
- Ngần ấy chưa đủ. (That much is not enough.)
- "ngần này": this much, this many. Used to indicate a quantity being presented or shown.
- Tôi chỉ cần ngần này giấy. (I only need this much paper.)
Variants and Related Words
- Trắng ngần (adj): An idiomatic adjective meaning very white, pure white, often used poetically.
- Hoa huệ trắng ngần. (The tuberose is pure white.)
Synonyms
- Mức độ (noun): degree, level.
- Lượng (noun): amount, quantity.
- Chừng mực (noun): moderation, measure.
Related Idioms
- Có ngần có mực: To act with proper measure and moderation; to be temperate and disciplined.
- Ông ấy sống có ngần có mực. (He lives a life of moderation and discipline.)