Definition

1. Noun:
   • Era / Age / Period: A distinct and identifiable span of time, often characterized by specific historical, social, or cultural conditions. It implies a particular zeitgeist or set of circumstances.
   • Times / The current day: Refers to the present period, often with a connotation of its unique (and sometimes challenging) nature, e.g., "the times we live in."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Thời buổi này, công nghệ thay đổi rất nhanh. (In this day and age, technology changes very quickly.)
  • Ông ấy đã sống qua nhiều thời buổi khác nhau. (He has lived through many different eras.)
  • Thời buổi kinh tế khó khăn. (These are times of economic difficulty.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "thời buổi" often carries a subjective or evaluative tone, commenting on the nature of the period. It is commonly used in phrases that critique or describe the spirit of the times.
  • Thời buổi thị trường, mọi thứ đều có giá. (In this market-driven age, everything has a price.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thời đại (n): Era, epoch, age. A more formal or grand term for a long and significant historical period.

  • Thời đại kỹ thuật số (The digital age).

• Thời kỳ (n): Period, phase. Often used for a defined segment of time, which can be historical, personal, or developmental.

  • Thời kỳ mang thai (The pregnancy period).

Synonyms

• Era: A long and distinct period of history.
• Times: The current period or general conditions of the present.
• Age: A particular period in history.

Related Idioms and Common Phrases

• Thời buổi này: These days; in this day and age. A very common phrase to introduce a comment about contemporary life.

  • Thời buổi này, học ngoại ngữ rất quan trọng. (These days, learning a foreign language is very important.)

• Thời buổi khó khăn: Hard times; a difficult period.

  • Công ty phải cắt giảm nhân sự trong thời buổi khó khăn. (The company had to downsize during hard times.)