Definition

1. Demonstrative adjective:

   • That, the other: A word placed after a noun to indicate a person, thing, or time that is at a distance (spatially or temporally) from the speaker, often contrasting with "này" (this). It points to a specific, known entity from a previously mentioned or implied set.

2. Demonstrative pronoun:

   • That one, the other one: Used to replace a noun that has been mentioned before or will be mentioned after, meaning "that one there" or "the aforementioned one."

Usage Examples

• As a demonstrative adjective:

  • Cái bàn nọ rất cổ. (That table over there is very antique.)
  • Hôm nọ, tôi gặp cô ấy. (The other day, I met her.)
  • Người nọ tên là gì? (What is that person's name?)

• As a demonstrative pronoun:

  • Đây là cái ghế, nọ là cái bàn. (Here is the chair, and there [is] the table.)
  • Cái nọ đẹp hơn cái này. (That one is more beautiful than this one.)

Advanced Usage

• "Kia... nọ...": A correlative structure used to list various things in a general, non-exhaustive way, similar to "this and that."

  • Anh ấy cứ kể chuyện trên nọ dưới kia. (He kept telling stories about this and that.)

• Used in fixed pairs with "này" to mean "various things" or "all sorts of things."

  • Cô ấy mua đủ thứ này nọ. (She bought all sorts of things.)

Variants and Related Words

• Này (demonstrative adjective/pronoun): This. Forms the primary pair with "nọ" (this and that).
• Kia (demonstrative adjective/pronoun): That (over there). Often indicates a greater distance than "nọ" and can be used similarly.

Synonyms

• That: Used to indicate a specific item not immediately near the speaker.
• The other: Used particularly with time references like "day."
• Yonder: A more literary synonym for indicating something at a distance.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Này nọ: This and that; various things. Used to refer to a collection of unspecified items or topics.

  • Chúng tôi nói chuyện này nọ cả buổi. (We talked about this and that all afternoon.)

• Đủ điều này nọ: To have all sorts of things; to be full of various matters.

  • Công việc ấy đủ điều này nọ phức tạp. (That job is full of all sorts of complications.)

1. That, the other (day)
   • Cái này, cái nọ
     This thing, that thing
   • Hôm nọ
     The other day
2. There, over there
   • Đây là lọ mực, nọ là quyển sách
     Here is an ink-bottle and there [is] a book