Definition

1. Conjunction:
   • That: A word used to introduce a subordinate clause, indicating that the following clause is the content or object of the verb in the main clause. It connects a statement or thought to a verb of saying, thinking, believing, etc.

Usage

• Primary Function: "Rằng" is used after verbs related to speech, thought, perception, or feeling (e.g., - to say, - to believe, - to think, - to hear, - to see) to introduce the specific content.
• Position: It almost always follows the main verb directly.
• Formality: It is a standard, neutral word used in both written and formal spoken Vietnamese. In casual conversation, it is often omitted.

Usage Examples

• With verbs of saying:
  • Cô ấy nói rằng cô ấy sẽ đến muộn. (She said that she would be late.)
  • Anh ấy khẳng định rằng thông tin đó là chính xác. (He affirmed that the information was accurate.)
• With verbs of thinking/believing:
  • Tôi tin rằng mọi chuyện sẽ ổn. (I believe that everything will be fine.)
  • Chúng tôi nghĩ rằng đây là một ý tưởng hay. (We think that this is a good idea.)
• With verbs of hearing/rumor:
  • Người ta đồn rằng ông ấy sắp chuyển đi. (People rumor that he is about to move away.)
  • Tôi nghe rằng trường học sẽ đóng cửa vào ngày mai. (I heard that the school will be closed tomorrow.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chẳng nói chẳng rằng": An idiom meaning "to not say a single word" or "to remain completely silent."
  • Khi được hỏi, anh ta chỉ im lặng, chẳng nói chẳng rằng. (When asked, he just remained silent, not saying a word.)
• Omission in Informal Speech: In daily conversation, "rằng" is frequently dropped, and the clause follows the verb directly.
  • Formal: Tôi nghĩ rằng anh ấy đúng. (I think that he is right.)
  • Informal: Tôi nghĩ anh ấy đúng. (I think he is right.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rằng là: A slightly more emphatic or literary variant with the same meaning as "rằng."
  • Nàng rằng là: "Thiếp đâu dám trách chàng." (She said: "How would I dare blame you.") - (Classical/poetic usage)
• Là: Can sometimes be used similarly to "rằng," especially with verbs like (to say) or (to tell), but "là" can imply a stronger assertion or definition.
  • Anh ấy nói là anh ấy bận. (He said he was busy.)

Synonyms

• Rằng has no perfect single-word synonym in this grammatical function. Its role is specifically to introduce a content clause. The concept is directly translated as "that" in English.

Related Phrases / Patterns

• Verb + rằng + [clause]: This is the fundamental grammatical pattern.
  • thừa nhận rằng (to admit that)
  • hy vọng rằng (to hope that)
  • biết rằng (to know that)
  • cảm thấy rằng (to feel that)

Related Idioms

• Chẳng nói chẳng rằng: As mentioned above, this idiom means to be completely silent, offering no explanation or response.
  • Cô ấy bước đi chẳng nói chẳng rằng. (She walked away without saying a word.)

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