Definition

1. Verb:

   • To come and go; to go back and forth; to pass by: Describes the movement of people, vehicles, or things moving in both directions between points, or frequenting a place.
   • To have dealings; to visit; to associate: Describes having a social relationship or mutual interaction with someone, involving reciprocal visits or contact.

2. Adjective:

   • Reciprocal; mutual; two-way: Describes an action, effect, or relationship that operates in both directions between two or more parties.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to come and go):
  • Ở đây có nhiều người qua lại. (There are a lot of people coming and going here.)
  • Xe cộ qua lại tấp nập trên đường. (Vehicles bustle back and forth on the road.)
• Verb (to associate):
  • Hai gia đình ấy qua lại với nhau thân thiết. (Those two families associate with each other closely.)
• Adjective (reciprocal):
  • Ảnh hưởng qua lại. (A reciprocal influence.)
  • Tác dụng qua lại giữa nam châm và dòng điện. (The reciprocal effect between a magnet and an electric current.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lời qua tiếng lại": An idiom meaning a verbal exchange, often a back-and-forth argument or retort.
  • Hai người lời qua tiếng lại rất căng thẳng. (The two had a very tense verbal exchange.)

Variants and Related Words

• Qua (preposition): Over, across, past. Indicates movement from one side to another.
  • Đi qua cầu. (To go across the bridge.)
• Lại (verb/adverb): To come (towards the speaker); again. Often indicates return or repetition.
  • Anh ấy lại đây. (He is coming here.)

Synonyms

• Verb: To frequent, to traffic, to shuttle.
• Adjective: Mutual, interactive, interdependent.

Related Idioms

• "Có đi có lại": Literally "to have going, to have coming," meaning mutual or reciprocal in actions (e.g., in gift-giving, favors).
  • Tình làng nghĩa xóm là phải có đi có lại. (Neighborly affection must be reciprocal.)

1. Come and gọ
   • ở đây có nhiều người qua lại
     There is a lot of people coming and going here
2. Reciprocal, mutual
   • ảnh hưởng qua lại
     A reciprocal influence
   • Tác dụng qua lại giữa nam châm và dòng điện
     The reciprocal effect between a magnet and an electric current