Definition

1. Phrase:
   • To return empty-handed: The primary meaning of "về không" is to come back without having obtained or achieved the intended goal or desired object. It describes a situation where one's effort yields no result.
   • To fail to acquire: It emphasizes the lack of a tangible outcome or prize after an endeavor, such as hunting, fishing, or a business trip.

Usage Examples

• Phrase:
  • Đi câu cả ngày mà về không. (I went fishing all day and came back empty-handed.)
  • Đoàn thám hiểm về không, không tìm thấy kho báu. (The expedition returned empty-handed, finding no treasure.)
  • Anh ấy đi chợ sớm nhưng vẫn về không vì hết hàng. (He went to the market early but still returned empty-handed because the goods were sold out.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a tone of disappointment or frustration. It can be used in both literal contexts (e.g., hunting, shopping) and figurative ones (e.g., seeking information, applying for jobs).
  • Cuộc đàm phán kết thúc, phía chúng tôi về không. (The negotiations ended, and our side came away with nothing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Về tay không (phrase): A more emphatic variant with the same core meaning of returning with nothing in one's hands.
  • Sau chuyến buôn, họ về tay không. (After the trading trip, they returned with nothing.)

Synonyms

• To return empty-handed: The direct equivalent.
• To come back with nothing: A descriptive synonym.
• To fail to get anything: Emphasizes the lack of acquisition.

Related Idioms

• Về không tay trắng: Similar to "về không," meaning to return completely empty-handed, often with a connotation of total loss or failure.
  • Đầu tư mạo hiểm, cuối cùng về không tay trắng. (He made a risky investment and ended up losing everything, returning with nothing.)