tán gẫu
Definition
- Verb:
- To chat / to have a chat: The primary meaning of "tán gẫu" is to engage in informal, relaxed, and often lengthy conversation, typically for pleasure or to pass the time, without a serious or urgent purpose.
- To gossip / to chit-chat: It can imply light, casual talk that may include sharing stories, news, or personal updates in a friendly, social manner.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Chúng tôi ngồi quán cà phê tán gẫu cả buổi chiều. (We sat at the coffee shop chatting all afternoon.)
- Họ thích tán gẫu về phim ảnh và âm nhạc. (They like to chat about movies and music.)
- Đừng tán gẫu quá lâu, chúng ta còn việc phải làm. (Don't chat for too long; we have work to do.)
Advanced Usage
- The word carries a strong connotation of leisure and social bonding. It is often used to describe the act of catching up with friends or acquaintances in a very informal setting.
Variants and Related Words
Tán dóc (v): A very close synonym, meaning to chat idly or gossip. It can sometimes have a slightly more trivial or frivolous connotation than "tán gẫu."
- Họ ngồi tán dóc về hàng xóm. (They sat gossiping about the neighbors.)
Trò chuyện (v): To converse, to talk. This is a more general and neutral term for conversation, which can be formal or informal.
- Chúng tôi trò chuyện về hợp đồng. (We talked about the contract.)
Buôn chuyện (v): To gossip, often with a negative implication of talking about others' private affairs.
- Cô ấy không thích buôn chuyện. (She doesn't like to gossip.)
Synonyms
- Chat: to talk in a friendly, informal way.
- Chit-chat: to engage in light, casual conversation.
- Gossip: to talk about other people's private lives, often including rumors.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tán gẫu phiếm: To chat about trivial matters; to make small talk.
- Mọi người chỉ đang tán gẫu phiếm trong bữa tiệc. (People were just making small talk at the party.)