tí

tí

Xin cho tôi một tí muối.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A tiny bit; a very small amount or quantity. This is the most common usage, indicating a minuscule portion of something, often used with "một" (a/one).
    • The first sign of the Vietnamese zodiac cycle (the Rat). Refers to the earthly branch symbol, associated with years and times of day.

  2. Adjective (function) / Modifier:

    • Very small; little; tiny. Used colloquially to describe the size or degree of something as being very slight.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (small amount):
    • Cho tôi một tí đường. (Give me a tiny bit of sugar.)
    • Cháu bé chỉ ăn được một tí cơm. (The child only ate a tiny bit of rice.)
  • Noun (zodiac sign):
    • Mẹ tôi sinh năm Tí. (My mother was born in the Year of the Rat.)
    • Giờ Tí là từ 11 giờ đêm đến 1 giờ sáng. (The Hour of the Rat is from 11 PM to 1 AM.)
  • Adjective/Modifier:
    • Căn phòng này nhỏ tí. (This room is tiny.)
    • Đợi tôi một chút, tí nữa thôi. (Wait for me a moment, just a tiny bit longer.)
Advanced Usage
  • "tí tẹo" / "tí tị" / "tí xíu": These are emphatic reduplicative forms meaning "a very, very tiny bit," reinforcing the smallness.
    • Tôi chỉ cần một tí xíu nước thôi. (I only need a teeny-tiny bit of water.)
  • "tí nào": Used in negative sentences or questions to mean "any (bit) at all."
    • Nó không buồn tí nào. (He isn't sad at all.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Tị: An alternate spelling for the zodiac sign "Tí" (the Rat).
  • Chút: A near-synonym for "tí" meaning "a little bit," though "chút" can sound slightly more formal.
    • Đợi tôi một chút. (Wait for me a moment.)
  • Tí hon (adj): Extremely small, minute, doll-sized.
    • Ngôi nhà tí hon. (A doll-sized house.)
Synonyms
  • Bit: a small amount.
  • Speck: a tiny spot or amount.
  • Jot: a very small amount (often used in negative contexts: "not one jot").
  • The Rat: for the zodiac meaning.
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Tí ta tí tách: An onomatopoeic phrase describing the light, rhythmic sound of light rain or ticking.
    • Mưa rơi tí ta tí tách. (The rain falls with a pitter-patter sound.)
  • Nói tí tách: To speak rapidly and continuously.
    • Cô ấy nói tí tách cả buổi. (She chattered away the whole time.)

Proverbs and Idioms