sai hẹn
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To miss an appointment / to fail to keep an appointment: To not be present at a pre-arranged meeting or event at the agreed time.
- To break a promise / to fail to keep a promise: To not do what one has assured or pledged to do.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Anh ấy đã sai hẹn với tôi hai lần. (He has missed his appointment with me twice.)
- Công ty sai hẹn về ngày giao hàng. (The company broke its promise about the delivery date.)
- Xin lỗi vì đã sai hẹn, tôi bị kẹt xe. (Sorry for missing the appointment, I was stuck in traffic.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a failure to fulfill a social or formal commitment, carrying a nuance of letting someone down or being unreliable.
- It can be used in both personal contexts (e.g., friends meeting) and professional contexts (e.g., business deadlines).
Variants and Related Words
- Thất hẹn (verb phrase): A more formal synonym meaning to miss an appointment or break a promise.
- Họ đã thất hẹn không đến dự tiệc. (They failed to keep their promise to attend the party.)
Synonyms
- To stand someone up: To fail to meet someone for a date or appointment.
- To break an appointment: To not attend a scheduled meeting.
- To go back on one's word: To fail to keep a promise.
Related Idioms
- While "sai hẹn" itself is a common phrase, it is frequently used in the structure "sai hẹn với ai đó" (to break a promise to someone) or "sai hẹn việc gì" (to fail to do something as promised).