Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To turn out to be; to prove to be: Used to describe something or someone revealing its true nature, quality, or character, often becoming apparent through actions or results.
   • To appear to be; to seem; to look like: Used to indicate the impression or outward appearance given by someone or something.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Lời hứa của họ ra tuồng không thành thật. (Their promise turned out to be dishonest.)
  • Công việc ra tuồng khó khăn hơn chúng tôi tưởng. (The job proved to be more difficult than we thought.)
  • Anh ta ăn nói ra tuồng không đứng đắn. (He speaks in a way that seems improper.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a nuance of judgment or assessment based on observed evidence. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts but frequently implies a discovery or confirmation of a suspected quality.
• It can be used to express that something is living up to (or failing to live up to) its expected role or name.

Variants and Related Words

• Ra vẻ (verb phrase): to put on airs; to affect a manner. This focuses more on a deliberate affectation.
  • Cô ấy ra vẻ ta đây giàu có. (She affects a rich manner.)
• Ra trò (verb phrase, colloquial): to be proper, substantial, or effective. Often used to say something is done properly or is impressive.
  • Bữa tiệc được tổ chức ra trò. (The party was thrown properly/impressively.)

Synonyms

• Turn out to be: To be discovered or confirmed to have a particular quality.
• Prove to be: To demonstrate by evidence to be.
• Appear to be: To give the impression of being.
• Seem: To give the effect of being.

Related Idioms

• Ra tuồng trên bộc trong dâu: An idiom from classic literature meaning to appear one way on the outside but be completely different on the inside; to be duplicitous. (Literally: to appear as "bộc" [a servant] on the outside but be "dâu" [a daughter-in-law] on the inside).
  • Kẻ đó nói ngọt ngào nhưng ra tuồng trên bộc trong dâu. (That person speaks sweetly but turns out to be two-faced.)

1. Turn out to be, prove to bẹ