Definition

1. Determiner (Plural Marker):

   • A certain number of, some: Used before a noun to indicate an unspecified plural quantity.
   • (Untranslatable plural indicator): Often used before nouns to mark plurality without a direct English equivalent, similar to "the" or "some" for plural nouns, or sometimes left untranslated.

2. Adverb:

   • As much as, as many as: Used before a numeral to emphasize a surprisingly large quantity, reaching up to a certain amount.
   • Frequently, usually, always: Used before a verb to indicate a habitual or constant action or state of mind.
   • Nothing but, only: Used to restrict meaning to "nothing other than" or "merely."
   • Just, barely: Used to indicate an action that has just occurred or a state that is merely the case.

Usage Examples

• Determiner:
  • Có những nhận thức sai lầm. (There are some wrong notions.)
  • Những người bạn của tôi. (My friends.)
• Adverb:
  • Nó ăn những tám bát cơm một bữa. (He eats as many as eight bowls of rice in one meal.)
  • Tôi những mong gặp bạn. (I frequently hope to see my friend.)
  • Những sách là sách. (Nothing but books are books. / It's all books and nothing else.)
  • Tôi những tưởng rằng... (I always thought that...)

Advanced Usage

• "những... là...": This structure reinforces restriction, meaning "nothing but..." or "all that exists are...".

  • Ở đây những gió là gió. (Here, there is nothing but wind.)

• "những + verb": Indicates a continuous or habitual mental state or action.

  • Nó những ngồi im suy nghĩ. (He just sits there quietly thinking.)

Variants and Related Words

• Các: Another plural marker, often more definite than "những". students (the students) vs. students (some/any students).

Synonyms

• Determiner: Some, several, a number of.
• Adverb (quantity): Up to, as many as.
• Adverb (frequency): Always, constantly, usually.
• Adverb (restriction): Only, merely, nothing but.

Related Idioms and Patterns

• Những là: An emphatic structure meaning "how very..." or "to such an extent that...", often used in classical or literary contexts.

  • Những là sầu tủi. (How very sorrowful.)

• Những ai...: Means "whoever..." or "all those who...".

  • Những ai chăm chỉ sẽ thành công. (Whoever is diligent will succeed.)

1. Certain number of, some
   • Có những nhận thức sai lầm
     There are a certain number of wrong notions
2. As much as, as many as
   • Nó ăn những tám bát cơm một bữa
     He eats as many as eight bowlfuls of rice at a meal.
3. (chỉ số nhiều, không dịch)
   • Những người bạn của tôi
     My friends
   • Tất cả những người khác
     All the others
4. Nothing but
   • Những sách là sách
     Nothing but books
5. Frequently, usually
   • Những mong gặp bạn
     To hope frequently to see one's friend