vừa phải
Definition
Adjective:
- Moderate; reasonable; within acceptable limits: Describes something that is not excessive, extreme, or intense, but is instead at a suitable, average, or appropriate level.
- Fair; not too much and not too little: Indicates a balanced, measured, or middling quantity, degree, or quality.
Adverb:
- Moderately; reasonably; to a fair degree: Used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate an action or state is performed or exists to a moderate extent.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Giá cả ở đây rất vừa phải. (The prices here are very reasonable.)
- Cô ấy có một sự nghiêm khắc vừa phải. (She has a moderate strictness.)
- Adverb:
- Anh ấy chạy vừa phải thôi. (He runs moderately, that's all.)
- Hôm nay trời nóng vừa phải. (It is moderately hot today.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can function as a predicate adjective following "là" (to be) or directly describe a noun.
- It is often used to express a positive judgment about something being appropriately scaled, avoiding extremes.
Variants and Related Words
- Điều độ (adj/phr): moderate, temperate (often for habits like eating or drinking).
- Sống điều độ rất tốt cho sức khỏe. (Living moderately is very good for health.)
- Phải chăng (adj): reasonable, fair (often for prices or proposals).
- Mức giá này khá phải chăng. (This price is quite reasonable.)
Synonyms
- Moderate: average in amount, intensity, or quality.
- Reasonable: based on good sense; fair and sensible.
- Temperate: showing moderation or self-restraint.
Related Idioms
- Vừa phải vừa đủ: just right, sufficient and not excessive.
- Phần ăn thế này là vừa phải vừa đủ. (This portion of food is just right, sufficient and not excessive.)
- Biết điều vừa phải: to know moderation, to know reasonable limits.
- Anh ta là người biết điều vừa phải. (He is a person who knows moderation.)