Definition

1. Adverbial phrase:
   • Lately / recently: Refers to a recent, but not precisely defined, period of time leading up to the present moment. It implies a short or moderate duration that is recent.

Usage Examples

• Adverbial phrase:
  • Ít lâu nay, thời tiết rất lạnh. (Lately, the weather has been very cold.)
  • Cô ấy ít lâu nay có vẻ mệt mỏi. (She has seemed tired recently.)
  • Ít lâu nay tôi không gặp anh ta. (I haven't met him lately.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used at the beginning of a sentence to set a temporal context for the statement that follows. It can describe a new, ongoing situation or a change observed over the recent past.

Variants and Related Words

• Dạo này (adv): lately, these days. A more common and colloquial synonym.

  • Dạo này anh có khỏe không? (How have you been lately?)

• Gần đây (adv): recently, near here. Can refer to recent time or physical proximity.

  • Sự việc xảy ra gần đây. (The incident happened recently.)

Synonyms

• Lately: in the recent period.
• Recently: at a time not long ago.
• Of late: a slightly more formal synonym for lately.

Notes on Usage

• Ít lâu nay is a fixed adverbial phrase. It is not typically broken down word-for-word in usage (where means "few/little," means "a long time," and means "now/this"). Together, they idiomatically mean "lately."
• It generally refers to a span of time (e.g., days, weeks, or a few months) immediately before the present.

1. lately