vừa nãy
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- Just now / a moment ago: Refers to a very recent point in the immediate past, typically within the last few minutes or a short while before the present moment of speaking.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Vừa nãy trời vẫn còn nắng. (Just now, the sun was still out.)
- Cô ấy vừa nãy còn ở đây. (She was here just a moment ago.)
- Tôi vừa nãy mới gặp anh ta. (I saw him just now.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to emphasize the immediacy or recency of a past event, often to express surprise, contradiction, or to provide context for a current situation.
- Vừa nãy anh nói gì? Tôi không nghe rõ. (What did you say just now? I didn't hear clearly.)
Variants and Related Words
Hồi nãy: A very close synonym, also meaning "a little while ago" or "just now." It is often interchangeable with "vừa nãy."
- Hồi nãy tôi đã gọi cho bạn. (I called you a little while ago.)
Vừa rồi: Can mean "just now" but often refers to a completed period or event that is very recent, sometimes with a slightly broader time frame (e.g., this morning, this afternoon).
- Buổi họp vừa rồi rất quan trọng. (The meeting just held was very important.)
Synonyms
- A moment ago: Indicates an action occurred a short time back.
- Just now: At a time immediately before the present.
- A short while ago: In the very recent past.
Related Phrases
Vừa mới: An adverbial phrase meaning "just" or "recently," often used with verbs to indicate a very recent completion.
- Cô ấy vừa mới về đến nhà. (She just arrived home.)
Lúc nãy: Similar to "vừa nãy," meaning "at that moment a while ago."
- Lúc nãy bạn đang làm gì? (What were you doing a moment ago?)