thấm thoát
Definition
- Adverb:
- Quickly, swiftly, in a flash: Describes the passage of time that feels rapid and unnoticed, often with a sense of surprise or nostalgia about how fast time has gone by.
- Soon, before one knows it: Indicates that a period of time has elapsed or an event will occur surprisingly quickly.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Thấm thoát đã mười năm kể từ ngày chúng tôi gặp nhau. (Ten years have passed in a flash since the day we met.)
- Thấm thoát mà con tôi đã đi học đại học. (Before I knew it, my child was already off to university.)
- Thời gian trôi qua thấm thoát. (Time passes swiftly.)
Advanced Usage
- This word is almost exclusively used to comment on the rapid, often unnoticed, passage of time. It carries a poetic or reflective tone and is rarely used for physical speed.
Variants and Related Words
- Thấm thoắt (adv): A variant with identical meaning and usage.
- Thấm thoắt một mùa xuân lại đến. (Spring has arrived again in the blink of an eye.)
Synonyms
- Quickly: at a fast speed.
- Swiftly: promptly and rapidly.
- In a flash: very quickly and suddenly.
- Before long: after a short time.
Related Idioms
- Thấm thoát thoi đưa: An idiom emphasizing the swift and relentless passage of time, like a shuttle flying on a loom.
- Thấm thoát thoi đưa, mái tóc đã điểm bạc. (Time flies swiftly, and grey hairs have already appeared.)
adv
-
quickly soon
