Definition

1. Adjective phrase:
   • Identical, the same: Indicates that two or more things, people, or situations are completely alike or equal in all relevant aspects, with no difference.
   • Similar, alike: Can also describe things that are very similar or comparable, though not necessarily absolutely identical.

Usage Examples

• Adjective phrase:
  • Hai chiếc áo này trông như nhau. (These two shirts look identical.)
  • Chúng tôi có quan điểm như nhau về vấn đề này. (We hold the same view on this issue.)
  • Hai anh em sinh đôi giống nhau như nhau. (The twin brothers look alike.)

Advanced Usage

• "chẳng khác gì nhau" / "không khác gì nhau": An emphatic phrase meaning "no different from each other," often used to stress the sameness.
  • Hai phương án này thực chất chẳng khác gì nhau. (These two options are essentially no different from each other.)
• "y như nhau": An emphatic phrase meaning "exactly the same," reinforcing the degree of similarity.
  • Hai bản báo cáo viết y như nhau. (The two reports are written exactly the same.)

Variants and Related Words

• Giống nhau (adj): Similar, alike. Often used interchangeably with "như nhau," though "giống nhau" can sometimes emphasize visual or inherent resemblance, while "như nhau" often emphasizes equivalence.
  • Hai chiếc xe giống nhau. (The two cars are similar.)
• Tương tự (adj): Similar, analogous. Indicates likeness but allows for more variation than "như nhau."
  • Một tình huống tương tự. (A similar situation.)

Synonyms

• Giống hệt: Identical, exactly the same.
• Đồng nhất: Homogeneous, uniform (more formal).
• Bằng nhau: Equal (often used for quantities, values, or status).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Như nhau" is an adjective phrase and does not form phrasal verbs. This section lists common Vietnamese verb phrases where "như nhau" functions as a complement.) - Coi / xem ... như nhau: To regard/treat ... as the same. - Anh ấy coi mọi người như nhau. (He treats everyone the same.) - Đối xử như nhau: To treat equally. - Giáo viên phải đối xử với tất cả học sinh như nhau. (The teacher must treat all students equally.)

Related Idioms

• "Một phường một phố như nhau": Literally "same ward, same street." Means being from the same social group or having similar circumstances, implying they should understand or treat each other well.
  • Thôi, một phường một phố như nhau, giúp đỡ nhau tí đi. (Come on, we're from the same neighborhood, help each other out a bit.)
• "Cá mè một lứa": Literally "a school of river carp." An idiom meaning a group of people who are all alike (often in a negative sense, implying they are equally bad or of the same low standard).
  • Bọn chúng cá mè một lứa cả. (They're all birds of a feather.)

1. Identical