Comprehensive Chinese-Vietnamese Vocabulary and Grammar Study Guide
Idioms and Four-Character Fixed Expressions
回味无穷 (huí wèi wú qióng)
Vietnamese Meaning: Dư vị còn mãi, đáng nhớ mãi.
Explanation: This expression literally refers to a flavor that lingers in the mouth long after eating. Metaphorically, it describes an experience, a book, a movie, or a conversation that is so profound or interesting that it leaves a deep and lasting impression on a person.
近在咫尺 (jìn zài zhǐ chǐ)
Vietnamese Meaning: Rất gần, ngay trước mắt.
Explanation: The terms "zhǐ" and "chǐ" are ancient units of length in China. This idiom describes something that is extremely close in distance—literally just a few inches away.
天方夜谭 (tiān fāng yè tán)
Vietnamese Meaning: Chuyện viển vông, không thực tế.
Explanation: This phrase is derived from the Chinese translation of the title "The Arabian Nights" (One Thousand and One Nights). In idiomatic usage, it refers to a story or a claim that is highly exaggerated, incredible, or completely absurd and impractical.
名副其实 (míng fù qí shí)
Vietnamese Meaning: Danh xứng với thực.
Explanation: This idiom is used when a person's or thing's reputation, title, or name matches its actual quality or reality. It implies that the name is not an exaggeration.
毫不犹豫 (háo bù yóu yù)
Vietnamese Meaning: Không hề do dự.
Explanation: This describes an action taken without a moment's hesitation or doubt. It signifies decisiveness and certainty.
培训有素 (péi xùn yǒu sù)
Vietnamese Meaning: Được đào tạo bài bản.
Explanation: This indicates that a person or a group has received rigorous, professional, and systematic training over a period of time, resulting in high proficiency.
值得一提 (zhí dé yì tí)
Vietnamese Meaning: Đáng được nhắc tới.
Explanation: Used to introduce a specific point or detail that is noteworthy or significant enough to deserve special attention within a conversation or text.
微薄之力 (wēi bó zhī lì)
Vietnamese Meaning: Chút sức mọn.
Explanation: A humble way to refer to one's own small or meager contribution to a larger cause or effort.
授人玫瑰 (shòu rén méi guī)
Vietnamese Meaning: Giúp người cũng là giúp mình.
Explanation: This is part of the longer proverb "授人玫瑰，手有余香" (Giving roses to others leaves a fragrance on your own hands). It conveys the philosophy that helping others brings joy and benefit to the giver as well.
General Vocabulary and Technical Terms
青睐 (qīng lài)
Vietnamese Meaning: Ưa chuộng, ưu ái.
Explanation: This term literally refers to looking at someone with the "black part of the eyes" (favorably). It means to favor, highly regard, or show a preference for someone or something.
巴氏消毒 (bā shì xiāo dú)
Vietnamese Meaning: Thanh trùng Pasteur.
Explanation: A technical term referring to the process of heat-treating milk or other liquids to eliminate pathogens, named after the scientist Louis Pasteur.
外埠 (wài bù)
Vietnamese Meaning: Ngoại tỉnh.
Explanation: Refers to areas or cities outside of one's local city or the central port city.
醇 (chún)
Vietnamese Meaning: Thuần, nguyên chất; nồng độ cồn cao.
Explanation: Can refer to the purity or mellowness of wine or spirits, or more broadly to something pure and unadulterated. In chemistry, it relates to alcohols.
防腐剂 (fáng fǔ jì)
Vietnamese Meaning: Chất bảo quản.
Explanation: Substances added to food, medicine, or other products to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or chemical changes.
如厕 (rú cè)
Vietnamese Meaning: Đi vệ sinh.
Explanation: A formal or polite way to express the act of going to the toilet.
憋尿 (biē niào)
Vietnamese Meaning: Nhịn tiểu.
Explanation: The act of voluntarily holding in urine.
撒娇 (sā jiāo)
Vietnamese Meaning: Làm nũng.
Explanation: To act like a spoiled child or to behave coquetishly toward someone (usually a parent or partner) to get attention or what one wants.
屠杀 (tú shā)
Vietnamese Meaning: Thảm sát.
Explanation: The indiscriminate and brutal killing of a large number of people or animals; a massacre.
蔑视 (miè shì)
Vietnamese Meaning: Coi thường.
Explanation: To look down upon someone or something with contempt or disdain; to treat something as worthless.
压抑 (yā yì)
Vietnamese Meaning: Đè nén.
Explanation: To constrain, inhibit, or hold back emotions, impulses, or actions.
配套 (pèi tào)
Vietnamese Meaning: Đồng bộ; đi kèm.
Explanation: Refers to forming a complete set or a matched pair; often used in the context of facilities, services, or equipment that complement each other.
包裹 (bāo guǒ)
Vietnamese Meaning: Bưu kiện.
Explanation: A package or parcel wrapped up for mailing or carrying.
期待 (qī dài)
Vietnamese Meaning: Mong đợi.
Explanation: To look forward to something with anticipation or hope.
呼吁 (hū yù)
Vietnamese Meaning: Kêu gọi.
Explanation: To make an appeal; to call on the public or an authority to take action or support a cause.
文具 (wén jù)
Vietnamese Meaning: Văn phòng phẩm.
Explanation: Stationery items used for writing and office work.
抚慰 (fǔ wèi)
Vietnamese Meaning: An ủi, xoa dịu.
Explanation: To comfort or console someone who is distressed; to soothe.
携 (xié)
Vietnamese Meaning: Cầm, mang theo.
Explanation: To carry or bring along; often used in formal contexts or compound words (e.g., 携带).
Syntactic Structures and Grammar Patterns
A 称 B 为… (A chēng B wèi…)
Vietnamese Translation: A gọi B là…
Usage: Used to describe the naming or labeling convention where Subject A designates Object B with a specific title or name.
A 有 B 的雅号 (A yǒu B de yǎ hào)
Vietnamese Translation: A có mỹ danh là…
Usage: Indicates that Subject A possesses the elegant nickname or alias "B".
A 和 B 没有两样 (A hé B méi yǒu liǎng yàng)
Vietnamese Translation: A và B không khác nhau.
Usage: A structure used to express equality or similarity, stating that there is no difference between A and B.
被……所诱惑 (bèi… suǒ yòu huò)
Vietnamese Translation: Bị… cám dỗ.
Usage: A passive structure indicating that the subject is being tempted or seduced by an external force or object noted between "bèi" and "suǒ".
处于……状态 (chǔ yú… zhuàng tài)
Vietnamese Translation: Ở trong trạng thái…
Usage: Describes the specific condition or state that a subject is currently in.
A 把 B 誉为… (A bǎ B yù wèi…)
Vietnamese Translation: A coi/tôn vinh B là…
Usage: A causative construction where Subject A praises or honors Object B by giving it a prestigious title or comparison.