xa gần
Definition
Adjective:
- Far and near / distant and close: Used to describe a range of distances, from far away to nearby. It often refers to relatives or places at varying degrees of separation.
- Everywhere / all over: Used to indicate that something is widespread or known in all places.
Adverb:
- In detail / at length: Used to describe speaking or narrating something thoroughly, covering all aspects or points.
- Indirectly / in a roundabout way: Used to describe speaking with hints or allusions, not stating something directly.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Bà con xa gần đều đến dự đám cưới. (Relatives, both distant and close, came to attend the wedding.)
- Tin đồn lan truyền xa gần. (The rumor spread far and wide.)
Adverb:
- Ông ấy kể xa gần về chuyến phiêu lưu của mình. (He recounted his adventure in great detail.)
- Cô ấy cứ nói xa nói gần mãi. (She kept talking in a roundabout way.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in its reduplicated form "nói xa nói gần" (to talk indirectly) to specifically mean speaking with insinuations or not coming to the point.
- Anh ta nói xa nói gần để phê bình tôi. (He spoke indirectly to criticize me.)
Variants and Related Words
- Xa (adj): far, distant.
- Gần (adj): near, close.
- Khắp nơi (adv): everywhere (similar to the "everywhere" meaning of ).
Synonyms
- Far and wide: covering a large area.
- In detail: including all important points.
- Indirectly: not in a direct manner.
Related Idioms
- Nói xa nói gần: to beat around the bush; to speak allusively.
- Đừng nói xa nói gần nữa, hãy đi thẳng vào vấn đề. (Stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point.)