Definition

1. Verb:
   • To delay, to postpone, to put off: "trì hoãn" means to cause something to happen at a later time than originally planned or expected. It implies a deliberate act of deferring an action or decision.

Usage

• "Trì hoãn" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the thing being delayed).
• It is often used in formal or serious contexts, such as business, official matters, or important personal plans.
• It carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting the delay is often unnecessary or counterproductive.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng tôi buộc phải trì hoãn cuộc họp đến tuần sau. (We are forced to delay the meeting until next week.)
  • Anh ấy có thói quen trì hoãn mọi việc đến phút cuối. (He has a habit of procrastinating on everything until the last minute.)
  • Dự án xây dựng đã bị trì hoãn vì thời tiết xấu. (The construction project has been postponed due to bad weather.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sự trì hoãn" (Noun): The act or state of delaying.
  • Mọi sự trì hoãn đều sẽ làm tăng chi phí. (Any delay will increase the costs.)
• "Thái độ trì hoãn": A delaying attitude; a dilatory approach.
  • Ông chủ không hài lòng với thái độ trì hoãn của nhân viên. (The boss is not satisfied with the employee's delaying attitude.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hoãn (Verb): To postpone, to adjourn. This is a simpler, more direct synonym, often used interchangeably with "trì hoãn" but sometimes perceived as slightly less formal.
  • Họ đã hoãn chuyến bay. (They postponed the flight.)
• Chậm trễ (Verb/Adjective): To be late/delayed; tardy. This emphasizes the state of being behind schedule rather than the act of causing the delay.
  • Tiến độ công việc đang bị chậm trễ. (The work progress is being delayed.)

Synonyms

• Để lùi lại: To push back.
• Kéo dài thời gian: To prolong the time (often with a strategic or negative intent).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Trì hoãn thi hành: To delay execution/enforcement.
  • Tòa án có thể trì hoãn thi hành bản án. (The court may delay the execution of the sentence.)
• Trì hoãn quyết định: To delay a decision.
  • Hội đồng quản trị cần thêm thông tin nên đã trì hoãn quyết định. (The board needed more information so they delayed the decision.)

Related Idioms

• Nước đến chân mới nhảy: (Lit: Only jump when the water reaches your feet). This idiom describes the behavior of someone who delays action until the last possible, often stressful, moment. It is a vivid description of procrastination, which is a form of "trì hoãn".
  • Anh ta luôn nước đến chân mới nhảy, không bao giờ làm sớm. (He always procrastinates until the last minute, never does things early.)

verb

1. to delay