Definition

1. Adverb (temporal):
   • Just ago / A moment ago: A word placed after temporal nouns like "khi," "lúc," or "ban" to form adverbial phrases indicating a point in time that has very recently passed. It refers to "the immediate past" or "a short while ago."

Usage Notes

• "Nãy" is never used alone. It must be combined with a preceding temporal noun to form a complete time expression.
• Common combinations are: khi nãy, lúc nãy, ban nãy. All mean "just a moment ago," "a short while ago," or "earlier."
• These phrases are used to refer to an event or state that occurred in the very recent past, often within the same conversation or context.

Usage Examples

• Adverb (in phrases):
  • Khi nãy trời đẹp lắm. (The weather was very nice just a moment ago.)
  • Lúc nãy tôi đang nói chuyện với anh ấy. (I was talking to him a while ago.)
  • Ban nãy có ai gọi điện không? (Did anyone call a short time ago?)

Advanced Usage

• "Từ nãy đến giờ": An extended phrase meaning "from a while ago until now" or "all this time."
  • Từ nãy đến giờ anh ấy vẫn im lặng. (He has been silent all this time.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khi nãy (adv phr): just now, a moment ago.
• Lúc nãy (adv phr): a while ago, just then.
• Ban nãy (adv phr): a short time ago, earlier.

Synonyms

• A moment ago: Refers to a very recent point in time.
• Just now: Indicates something happened in the immediate past.
• Earlier (today): Refers to a time not long before the present moment (within the same day or context).

Related Phrases

• Hồi nãy: A less common but acceptable variant with the same meaning as "lúc nãy" or "khi nãy."
  • Hồi nãy cô ấy có ở đây. (She was here earlier.)

1. Just ago
   • Khi nãy
     Just a moment ago
   • Lúc nãy
     Just a while ago
   • Ban nãy
     Just a short time ago