Definition

1. Noun (Grammatical Particle):
   • A grammatical particle placed before a verb or adjective to nominalize it, turning the action or state into an abstract concept, event, or fact. It is equivalent to the English gerund ("-ing" form) or abstract nouns like "the act of," "the state of," or "the fact of."
   • Thing, matter, affair, event: Refers to a concrete happening, incident, or matter.

Usage Examples

• As a Nominalizing Particle:

  • Sự giúp đỡ của bạn rất quan trọng. (Your help is very important.)
  • Tôi ngưỡng mộ sự kiên nhẫn của cô ấy. (I admire her patience.)
  • Sự ra đi của ông ấy làm mọi người buồn. (His departure made everyone sad.)

• Referring to an Event or Matter:

  • Đó là một sự kiện lớn. (That is a major event.)
  • Không có sự gì lạ xảy ra. (Nothing strange happened.)
  • Sự đã rồi. (It's a done deal / a fait accompli.)

Advanced Usage

• "sự việc": incident, matter, occurrence.

  • Cảnh sát đang điều tra sự việc. (The police are investigating the incident.)

• "sự thật": truth, fact.

  • Anh ấy cần phải nói ra sự thật. (He needs to tell the truth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự kiện (n): event, occurrence.
• Sự cố (n): incident, breakdown, glitch.
• Sự nghiệp (n): career, life's work.
• Công sự (n): fortification, military work (compound where "sự" means "work").

Synonyms

• Act/Action: the process of doing something.
• Fact: a thing that is known or proved to be true.
• Event: a thing that happens.
• Matter: an affair or situation under consideration.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Sự đời: the ways of the world, life's matters.

  • Anh ấy đã hiểu rõ sự đời. (He has come to understand the ways of the world.)

• Mọi sự: everything, all matters.

  • Cầu chúc mọi sự tốt lành. (I wish for all good things.)

noun

1. deed, act, action event, occurrence