thoạt kỳ thuỷ
Definition
- 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.)