Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Thorough, detailed, exhaustive: Describes knowledge, understanding, or an explanation that is complete, clear, and covers all aspects and minute details of a subject.
   • Intimate, in-depth: Refers to a very deep and comprehensive grasp of a matter.

2. Adverb (used after verbs like "biết", "hiểu", "trình bày"):

   • Thoroughly, in detail, exhaustively: Describes the manner of knowing, understanding, or explaining something with complete clarity and attention to all particulars.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Anh ấy có hiểu biết tường tận về lịch sử thành phố. (He has a thorough knowledge of the city's history.)
  • Chúng tôi cần một báo cáo tường tận. (We need a detailed/exhaustive report.)

• Adverb:

  • Cô ấy biết tường tận mọi ngóc ngách của khu phố. (She knows every nook and cranny of the neighborhood thoroughly.)
  • Giáo viên giải thích tường tận từng bước một. (The teacher explained each step in detail.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in formal, academic, or investigative contexts to emphasize the depth and completeness of information.
• It frequently collocates with verbs of cognition and communication: biết tường tận (to know thoroughly), hiểu tường tận (to understand in depth), trình bày/tường thuật tường tận (to present/narrate in detail).

Variants and Related Words

• Tường minh (adj): Explicit, clear, and unambiguous (often used in logic or instructions).
• Thấu đáo (adj): Penetrating, insightful, thorough (similar meaning, often interchangeable with "tường tận").
• Chi tiết (adj/n): Detailed; details. While "chi tiết" focuses on the presence of many parts, "tường tận" emphasizes the clarity and completeness of understanding those parts.

Synonyms

• Thorough: Complete with regard to every detail.
• Exhaustive: Comprehensive and thorough.
• Detailed: Having many details.
• In-depth: Done with great thoroughness.

Antonyms

• Sơ sài (adj): Superficial, cursory, skimpy.
• Qua loa (adj): Perfunctory, done carelessly or hastily.
• Mơ hồ (adj): Vague, unclear.

Related Phrases

• Biết một cách tường tận: To know in a thorough manner.
  • Phóng viên phải biết một cách tường tận về vụ án. (The reporter must know about the case in a thorough manner.)
• Tìm hiểu cho tường tận: To investigate/research thoroughly until complete understanding is achieved.
  • Chúng ta nên tìm hiểu cho tường tận trước khi quyết định. (We should research this thoroughly before deciding.)

adj

1. thorough, thoroughly