Definition

1. Verb:
   • To adjust by adding or subtracting details: "Thêm bớt" refers to the act of modifying something, typically a story, account, or description, by including extra details or omitting existing ones, often changing its original nature or truth.
   • To alter; to modify: It can also mean to make changes to something by increasing or decreasing its amount, content, or components.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy kể lại câu chuyện mà không thêm bớt gì cả. (He retold the story without adding or subtracting anything.)
  • Công thức này có thể cần thêm bớt một chút gia vị tùy khẩu vị. (This recipe might need a little adjustment of seasoning according to taste.)
  • Đừng có thêm bớt khi truyền đạt lại mệnh lệnh. (Don't alter anything when relaying the order.)

Advanced Usage

• "nói thêm bớt": to distort the truth while speaking; to tell a story inaccurately by adding or omitting details.

  • Cô ấy không thích những người hay nói thêm bớt. (She doesn't like people who often distort the truth.)

• "thêm bớt chi tiết": to embellish or edit details.

  • Bản báo cáo phải trung thực, không được thêm bớt chi tiết. (The report must be honest; details must not be added or subtracted.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thêm (verb): to add; to increase.

  • Thêm muối vào canh. (Add salt to the soup.)

• Bớt (verb): to reduce; to subtract; to decrease.

  • Bớt tiếng ồn lại. (Reduce the noise.)

• Điều chỉnh (verb): to adjust; to regulate. (A more formal synonym often used in technical or official contexts).

  • Điều chỉnh kế hoạch. (Adjust the plan.)

Synonyms

• Bịa đặt / Thêu dệt: to fabricate; to embellish (with a stronger negative connotation of making things up).
• Sửa đổi: to modify; to amend (often more neutral and formal).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a compound verb, "thêm bớt" itself functions as a phrasal unit. Its components are rarely separated in common usage.

Related Idioms

• "Ăn thật làm giả, nói thêm bớt": (Literal: Eat real, work fake, speak with additions and subtractions). An idiom criticizing dishonest behavior, especially distorting the truth.
  • Làm ăn với hạng người ăn thật làm giả, nói thêm bớt thì rất nguy hiểm. (Doing business with the kind of people who are deceitful and distort the truth is very dangerous.)

verb

1. adjust to add or cut details