trước hạn
Definition
Adverb / Adverbial phrase:
- Ahead of schedule / before the deadline: Occurring or completed earlier than the originally planned, agreed, or expected date or time.
- Prematurely: Happening before the normal, natural, or intended time.
Adjective (when used attributively):
- Early / advance / premature: Describing an action, payment, or event that is done or happens before its scheduled time.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Dự án đã được hoàn thành trước hạn. (The project was completed ahead of schedule.)
- Cô ấy sinh con trước hạn hai tuần. (She gave birth two weeks prematurely.)
- Adjective:
- Khoản thanh toán trước hạn có thể bị phí. (An early payment may incur a fee.)
- Sự rút tiền trước hạn bị ngân hàng cấm. (Premature withdrawal is prohibited by the bank.)
Advanced Usage
- "trả trước hạn": to prepay, to pay off early (e.g., a loan).
- Nhiều người muốn trả trước hạn khoản vay thế chấp. (Many people want to pay off their mortgage early.)
- "hoàn thành trước hạn": to complete ahead of schedule.
- Đội xây dựng được khen thưởng vì hoàn thành trước hạn. (The construction team was rewarded for finishing ahead of schedule.)
Variants and Related Words
- Trước thời hạn: A near-synonymous phrase also meaning "before the deadline" or "ahead of time."
- Anh ta nộp bài luận trước thời hạn. (He submitted his essay before the deadline.)
- Sớm hơn dự kiến: Sooner than expected (a more descriptive phrase).
Synonyms
- Ahead of schedule: Earlier than planned.
- Prematurely: Happening before the usual or proper time.
- In advance: Done beforehand.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Ăn trước hạn": Literally "to eat before the expiry date"; used figuratively to mean using or consuming something before it is officially due or before its time.
- Đừng có ăn trước hạn phần thưởng của mình. (Don't "consume" your reward before it's due.)
- "Chết trước hạn": To die prematurely.
- Cây bị sâu bệnh và chết trước hạn. (The tree was diseased and died prematurely.)