vô

vô

Một người đàn ông vô nhà.

Definition

  1. Preposition:

    • Into, in, to: Indicates movement or direction toward the inside of a place or a state. It is the Southern Vietnamese dialectal equivalent of the standard word "vào."
    • To, toward (in a north-south context): Used in directional phrases, often indicating movement from the north toward the south in Vietnam.

  2. Prefix:

    • Non-, un-, in-, -less: A prefix of Sino-Vietnamese origin attached to other words (often adjectives or nouns) to indicate the absence, negation, or opposite of a quality.
Usage Examples

  • Preposition:

    • Mời bạn vô nhà. (Please come into the house.)
    • Anh ấy đi từ Đà Nẵng vô Sài Gòn. (He traveled from Da Nang to Saigon.)
    • Để sách vô túi. (Put the book in the bag.)

  • Prefix:

    • Công việc đó thật vô ích. (That work is really useless.)
    • Hành động vô kỷ luật sẽ bị phạt. (Disciplineless action will be punished.)
Advanced Usage
  • As a preposition, "vô" is commonly used in spoken language in Southern Vietnam. In formal writing or Northern speech, "vào" is preferred.
  • The directional use ("vô" meaning southward) is deeply embedded in Vietnamese geography, where "vô" implies going toward the southern part of the country, often Ho Chi Minh City.
Variants and Related Words
  • Vào (preposition): The standard Vietnamese word for "into, in, to." is its dialectal variant.
  • Vô tư (adjective): Carefree, without worry.
    • Cậu ấy sống rất vô tư. (He lives very carefreely.)
  • Vô tội (adjective): Innocent, guiltless.
    • Bị cáo được tuyên bố vô tội. (The defendant was declared innocent.)
Different Meanings
  1. Direction/Entry (Preposition): Focuses on physical or metaphorical movement into a space or group.
  2. Negation (Prefix): Focuses on describing a state of lacking a specific quality. It is not used as a standalone verb for negation (like "không").
Synonyms
  • Into/In (as preposition): vào, trong.
  • Without/Not having (as prefix): không có, thiếu.
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Vô thưởng vô phạt: Neither rewarded nor punished; inconsequential, of no great importance.
    • Trận đấu kết thúc với tỷ số vô thưởng vô phạt. (The match ended with an inconsequential score.)
  • Vô duyên: Tactless, lacking charm or grace.
    • Câu nói đùa đó nghe hơi vô duyên. (That joke sounds a bit tactless.)
  • Vô chủ: Ownerless, stray.
    • Chiếc xe đạp vô chủ. (The ownerless bicycle.)

Từ có nhắc đến "vô"

Proverbs and Idioms