Definition

1. 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.

2. 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.)