vâng dạ

Một học sinh vâng dạ lời thầy giáo.

Definition

1. Interjection / Adverb:
   • Yes / Yes, sir/ma'am: A respectful and obedient form of agreement or acknowledgment, typically used by a younger or subordinate person when replying to an elder or superior. It conveys compliance and deference.
   • To say yes without meaning it / To pay lip service: Can imply a superficial or insincere agreement, where one says "yes" out of formality but does not follow through with action or genuine intent.

Usage Examples

• Interjection / Adverb:
  • Khi ông chủ gọi, anh ấy luôn đáp: "Vâng dạ". (When the boss calls, he always answers: "Yes, sir.")
  • Con đã hiểu bài chưa? – Vâng dạ, con hiểu rồi ạ. (Do you understand the lesson? – Yes, I understand.)
  • Anh ta chỉ biết vâng dạ, chẳng bao giờ dám đưa ra ý kiến. (He only knows how to say yes, never daring to give an opinion.)

Advanced Usage

• "vâng vâng dạ dạ": A reduplicated, more emphatic form. It can intensify the politeness or, conversely, highlight excessive or fawning obedience that may lack sincerity.
  • Cậu ấy chỉ vâng vâng dạ dạ rồi sau đó làm theo ý mình. (He just kept saying "yes, yes, sir, sir" and then did things his own way.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vâng (interj): Yes. A standard, polite term for agreement.

  • Vâng, tôi đồng ý. (Yes, I agree.)

• Dạ (interj): Yes. Often used by children to adults or by subordinates to superiors; slightly more formal and deferential than "vâng" in some contexts.

  • Dạ, con nghe đây ạ. (Yes, I'm listening.)

Synonyms

• Yes, sir/ma'am: A polite affirmation showing respect.
• Compliance: The act of obeying an order or request.
• Lip service: Agreement in words only, not followed by action.

Related Idioms

• Chỉ biết vâng dạ: To only know how to say yes; describes a person who is overly submissive and lacks initiative or independent thought.

  • Một nhân viên chỉ biết vâng dạ sẽ khó có sáng kiến. (An employee who only knows how to say yes will struggle to have innovative ideas.)

• Vâng dạ cho qua chuyện: To say yes just to get past the matter; to agree superficially to end a discussion without real commitment.

  • Đừng vâng dạ cho qua chuyện, hãy nói thật suy nghĩ của anh. (Don't just say yes to get it over with, speak your true thoughts.)