Definition

1. Noun:
   • Adjective: A word class (part of speech) that modifies a noun or pronoun by describing its qualities, states, or attributes, such as color, size, shape, or feeling.

Usage

• Tính từ is a grammatical term used to classify words. It is used to describe or give more information about a noun.
• In a sentence, a tính từ typically comes after the noun it modifies in Vietnamese (e.g., "căn nhà lớn" - the big house), unlike in English where it often comes before the noun.
• It can be used with adverbs of degree like "rất" (very), "khá" (quite), "hơi" (a bit) to specify the intensity of the quality (e.g., "rất đẹp" - very beautiful).

Examples

• ("White", "tall", "fast", "intelligent" are all adjectives.)
• (In the phrase "blue sky", the word "blue" is an adjective.)
• (She has a bright smile.)
• (That is a complex problem.)

Advanced Usage

• Tính từ chỉ thị (Demonstrative Adjectives): Words like "này" (this), "đó/kia" (that) which point out specific nouns. (e.g., "quyển sách này" - this book).
• Tính từ sở hữu (Possessive Adjectives): Words like "của tôi" (my), "của anh ấy" (his) which show possession. In Vietnamese, possession is often shown with "của" + pronoun.
• Tính từ số lượng (Quantitative Adjectives): Words indicating amount or quantity, such as "một" (one), "nhiều" (many), "ít" (few).
• Tính từ có thể làm vị ngữ: In Vietnamese, adjectives can function as the predicate of a sentence without a linking verb like "to be". (e.g., "Cô ấy thông minh." - She is intelligent.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tính chất (n): Property, characteristic, quality. (e.g., Tính chất của vật liệu - The properties of the material.)
• Tính cách (n): Personality, character. (e.g., Tính cách vui vẻ - A cheerful personality.)
• Tính từ hóa: To adjectivize, the process of turning a word from another class into an adjective.

Synonyms

• Hình dung từ (n): An older or stylistic term for tính từ, also meaning "adjective". It emphasizes the descriptive nature of the word.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Dùng như tính từ: Used as an adjective. This phrase is used to describe when a word from another part of speech functions like an adjective.
  • Trong "màu cà phê", từ "cà phê" được dùng như tính từ. (In "coffee color", the word "coffee" is used as an adjective.)

noun

1. adjective