thi nhau
Definition
- Adverb:
- Competitively / in rivalry: Describes multiple parties engaging in the same action with a spirit of competition or rivalry, each trying to outdo the others.
- One after another / vyingly: Indicates that actions are performed successively or simultaneously by many, often in an eager or enthusiastic manner to match or surpass others.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Các học sinh thi nhau phát biểu. (The students vied with each other to raise their hands.)
- Những cây non thi nhau đâm chồi vào mùa xuân. (The young plants sprouted shoots one after another in spring.)
- Các công ty thi nhau giảm giá. (The companies competitively lowered their prices.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to describe a collective, often lively or intense, atmosphere where multiple entities are trying to outperform each other in a positive or negative action.
- Bọn trẻ thi nhau kể về kỳ nghỉ của mình. (The children eagerly took turns telling about their vacations.)
Variants and Related Words
- Đua nhau (v): to race each other, to compete. Often interchangeable with "thi nhau" but can imply a more direct race or contest.
- Họ đua nhau chạy vào đích. (They raced each other to the finish line.)
Synonyms
- Competitively: In a manner involving competition.
- Vyingly: Striving to outdo others.
- In emulation: Doing something in an effort to equal or excel.
Related Idioms
Thi nhau làm việc tốt: to vie in doing good deeds.
- Mọi người trong làng thi nhau làm việc tốt. (Everyone in the village vied to do good deeds.)
Thi nhau nói: to talk over each other, to compete to speak.
- Khi cô giáo hỏi, lũ trẻ thi nhau nói. (When the teacher asked, the children all tried to talk at once.)