Definition

Adverb: - Nearly, almost, on the verge of: Indicates that an event was very close to happening but did not actually occur. It emphasizes a narrow margin or a close call.

Usage

The word suýt is used before a verb (or a verb phrase) to describe a situation where an action or event almost happened. It often conveys a sense of relief or danger avoided. - It is typically placed directly before the main verb of the clause. - It is commonly used in past tense contexts to describe a near-miss.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Tôi suýt ngã. (I almost fell.)
  • Anh ấy suýt bị xe đụng. (He was nearly hit by a car.)
  • Chúng tôi suýt lỡ chuyến tàu. (We almost missed the train.)
  • Cô ấy suýt khóc. (She was on the point of crying.)

Advanced Usage

• "Suýt nữa thì...": This structure emphasizes the "almost" scenario, often translated as "a little more and...would have...".
  • Suýt nữa thì tôi quên mang chìa khóa. (A little more and I would have forgotten to bring the key.)
• "Suýt soát": A variant that intensifies the meaning, indicating something was extremely close or narrowly achieved.
  • Chiếc xe về đích với thành tích suýt soát. (The car finished with a very close/narrow result.)

Variants and Related Words

• Xuýt: A less common variant with the same meaning as suýt.
  • Nó xuýt trượt kỳ thi. (He almost failed the exam.)
• Suýt soát (adj/adverb): Describes something done or happening by a very narrow margin.
• Hụt: Means "to miss" or "to fall short". While related, hụt often implies the action was attempted but not completed (e.g., - to miss a flight), whereas suýt focuses on the state of being very close to an event.

Synonyms

• Gần như: Almost, nearly (can be used more broadly, not exclusively for near-misses).
• Mém: Colloquial for "almost", used similarly to suýt (e.g., - almost died).
• Sắp: About to, indicates imminent future action, but without the connotation of a narrowly avoided negative outcome that suýt carries.

Related Phrases

• Suýt chết: To almost die; to have a near-death experience.
  • Ông ấy suýt chết vì bệnh tim. (He almost died from a heart condition.)
• Suýt nữa thì... mất: A common pattern meaning "almost lost...".
  • Suýt nữa thì tôi mất ví. (I almost lost my wallet.)

Notes

Suýt is primarily used for events that almost happened but did not. It is not used for events that actually occurred. The outcome following suýt is always the undesirable or unexpected event that was avoided.

verb

1. to be about to, to be on the point of