trước nay
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- Until now / Up to now / Hitherto: Refers to the entire period of time from some point in the past leading up to the present moment. It is used to describe a continuous state or a recurring situation that has persisted.
- So far / Thus far: Indicates the extent of time, experience, or events from the past up to the current point, often when summarizing or evaluating.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Trước nay tôi chưa bao giờ thấy điều tương tự. (Until now, I have never seen anything similar.)
- Trước nay anh ấy luôn là một nhân viên đáng tin cậy. (Up to now, he has always been a reliable employee.)
- Đó là thảm họa tồi tệ nhất trước nay. (That is the worst disaster so far.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to introduce a contrast with the present, often followed by a clause beginning with "nhưng" (but) or "mà" (that).
- Trước nay trời vẫn mưa, nhưng hôm nay thì nắng. (It had been raining up until now, but today it's sunny.)
Variants and Related Words
Từ trước đến nay: This is a fuller, more emphatic form with the same meaning ("from the past until now").
- Từ trước đến nay, chúng tôi vẫn áp dụng phương pháp này. (From the past until now, we have always applied this method.)
Cho đến nay: A near-synonym meaning "up to the present day" or "until now," often used in more formal or written contexts.
Synonyms
- Hitherto: (Formal) Up until this time.
- Up to now: Until the present moment.
- So far: Until this point in time or in a process.
- Thus far: Up to this point (similar to "so far").
Related Idioms and Phrases
Chưa từng có trước nay: An idiom meaning "unprecedented" or "never seen before."
- Lượng khán giả là chưa từng có trước nay. (The number of spectators is unprecedented.)
Xưa nay: A closely related phrase meaning "from ancient times until now" or "traditionally," often used to talk about general truths or long-standing customs.
- Xưa nay người ta vẫn nói vậy. (People have always said that.)