Definition

1. Adverb:
   • At the very beginning / Initially: This literary and somewhat archaic phrase refers to the very first point in time or the starting stage of a process, event, or narrative. It emphasizes the origin or commencement.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Thoạt kỳ thuỷ, dự án này gặp nhiều khó khăn. (At the very beginning, this project encountered many difficulties.)
  • Thoạt kỳ thuỷ, câu chuyện cổ tích ấy chỉ là một truyền thuyết. (Initially, that fairy tale was merely a legend.)

Advanced Usage

• This phrase is primarily used in formal, literary, or historical contexts. It is not common in everyday spoken Vietnamese. It often sets the stage for a narrative or explanation by pinpointing the original state before changes occurred.

Variants and Related Words

• Thoạt tiên (adv): At first, initially. This is a more common and slightly less formal synonym.

  • Thoạt tiên, tôi không nhận ra anh ấy. (At first, I didn't recognize him.)

• Ban đầu (adv): At the beginning, initially. This is the most common and neutral term.

  • Ban đầu, mọi việc có vẻ đơn giản. (Initially, everything seemed simple.)

Synonyms

• Initially: At the beginning.
• At the outset: At the start of an event or process.
• In the first place: From or at the very beginning.

Related Idioms

• Từ thuở ban sơ: From time immemorial / From the earliest times. This phrase evokes a more poetic and ancient beginning.
  • Truyền thuyết ấy đã có từ thuở ban sơ. (That legend has existed since the earliest times.)