nhác qua
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- At a glance / with a cursory look: Refers to the act of looking at something very quickly and superficially, without paying close attention or examining in detail.
- To skim over: Describes the action of reviewing or reading something hastily and without thoroughness.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Tôi chỉ nhác qua báo cáo. (I only glanced at the report.)
- Cô ấy nhác qua danh sách và gật đầu. (She skimmed over the list and nodded.)
- Nhác qua thì căn phòng có vẻ gọn gàng. (At a glance, the room seems tidy.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a preliminary or insufficient examination. It is frequently used with words like "chỉ" (only) or "mới" (just) to emphasize the brevity and lack of depth in the observation or review.
Variants and Related Words
Liếc qua (v): to glance, to peek. Often used interchangeably with "nhác qua," though "liếc qua" can sometimes imply a more furtive or sly look.
- Anh ta liếc qua đồng hồ. (He glanced at his watch.)
Xem lướt (v): to skim, to scan (often used for reading).
- Tôi xem lướt email trước khi họp. (I skimmed the emails before the meeting.)
Synonyms
- Glance: to take a brief or hurried look.
- Skim: to read or look over cursorily.
- Browse: to look through something in a casual, leisurely way.
Related Idioms
- Nhìn thoáng qua: to look fleetingly. A near-identical phrase with the same meaning.
- Tôi nhìn thoáng qua và không thấy gì lạ. (I looked fleetingly and saw nothing unusual.)