My blog for helping Vietnamese learners

[Paddy]

Talking of the time:
Một ngày kia, một ngày nọ = Once day ( the day is not at the moment, it can be in the past or future)
I hope it would help you sth.

Bác coi lại đi. Tớ nghĩ bác lộn chữ one day đó. Hoặc once a day (một lần mỗi ngày).

Chữ once trong dạng tính từ có nghĩa là [cái gì] củ/xưa rồi.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/once

–adverb
1.at one time in the past; formerly: I was a farmer once; a once powerful nation.
2.a single time: We ate there just once. We go to a movie once a week.
3.even a single time; at any time; ever: If the facts once become known, it will be just too bad.
4.by a single step, degree, or grade: a cousin once removed.
–adjective
5.former; having at one time been: the once and future king.
–conjunction
6.if or when at any time; if ever.
7.whenever; as soon as: Once you're finished, you can leave.
–noun
8.a single occasion; one time only: Once is enough.

[birgit]

About "1 miếng nhỏ", LtDra explained very well for you. I just want to say: yes, you can (for your questions)


The word "xem" can be combined with another words to have a specific meaning.
For examples:
- Xem thử = look in to know whether it's good or not before choose it
- Xem chung quanh = look around
- Xem lại = look back, review
- Xem xét = look into, find the facts
... but in Vietnamese, there is no word can combined with "xem" to have the meaning is "look for", so we have to use the synonym of it is "search" means "tìm". Yes, "tìm" = "search/look for".

Thank you so much!
Just an additional question:
Can I say "toi tim 1 Tu dien Viet-duc" in a bookstore? Or "toi tim 1 dung ho Rolex "in a whatch shop?
And When and in what situation do you use the word "thay" for seeing? Is it equal to xem?

[LtDra]

Bác LtDra,
Chữ bike là xe 2 bánh (hoặc 3 bánh như xe của Đức Quốc Xã). Bác muốn nói xế nổ thì dùng motorbike, còn xế điếc thì bicycle.

Và it won't be stolen, không cần chữ get.

lâu quá không thấy bác.

Đúng rồi bác. Trông nom chứ không phải nôm.

Bác để ý một cái là chữ auntie/aunty thường được dùng trong văn nói. Văn viết thì nên dùng chữ aunt.

Thank you Pađy . Anh Việt, cả 2 đều lèo bèo như nhau

[vietnamese4u]

Thank you so much!
Just an additional question:
Can I say "toi tim 1 Tu dien Viet-duc" in a bookstore? Or "toi tim 1 dung ho Rolex "in a whatch shop?
And When and in what situation do you use the word "thay" for seeing? Is it equal to xem?

Yes, you can use "tôi tìm 1 từ điển Việt - Đức" in a bookstore or "tôi tìm 1 đồng hồ Rolex" in a watch shop. It also means "I want to buy..." in this context.

The word "thấy" means "see/discovered". After a while "tìm" or "xem xét" then you "thấy" the thing you need.
Ex:
- In here is so dark, I can't "thấy" anything !
- While I was taking a look to the sky, I suddenly "thấy" an UFO

you can also use the similar word of it that is "tìm ra" (find out) in some cases

[english-learner]

Bác coi lại đi. Tớ nghĩ bác lộn chữ one day đó. Hoặc once a day (một lần mỗi ngày).

Chữ once trong dạng tính từ có nghĩa là [cái gì] củ/xưa rồi.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/once

đúng rồi!
One day = một ngày kia, một ngày nọ

Thanks

[birgit]

Thank you very much! That is a very clear explained!!
I am learning so much from you!!
We have another discussion about the difference between "nhung" and "ma" for saying "but".EX. to translate: I like that, "but"I do not have enough money. I like him, but not his friend. "he is nice, but lazy?
My teacher here in Denmark and a teacher in Nha Trang has tried to explain, but I really cannot see/understand the difference? So, when you have time????

[LtDra]

Thank you very much! That is a very clear explained!!
I am learning so much from you!!
We have another discussion about the difference between "nhung" and "ma" for saying "but".EX. to translate: I like that, "but"I do not have enough money. I like him, but not his friend. "he is nice, but lazy?
My teacher here in Denmark and a teacher in Nha Trang has tried to explain, but I really cannot see/understand the difference? So, when you have time????

But="Nhưng" & "nhưng mà", my opinion, are the same in most of case. There is a lìttle differance, "nhưng mà" has sound more polite,and softer than just "nhưng" when you try to explain or refuse something.

And "mà" by it self you may consider it as "with not""without" or "which is" in english
ex:
Em đi xem xi nê mà anh không cho anh hay.
You went to the cinema without letting me know.

Anh không nhớ sao? cái tiệm mà em chỉ anh hôm đó!
Don't you remember? the store which I showed you on that day!

[vietnamese4u]

There's not much difference between "nhưng" and "mà". They are almost the same.
I think that the root word of them is "nhưng mà" but as usual we can omit one word in it for shorter. The word "nhưng" used very common but the word "nhưng mà" sounds more polite as LtDra said. The word "mà" has many different meaning (mà is in the short of "nhưng mà", mà means "whom/which/that" in relative pronouns)

For example, use your sentences
I like that, but I do not have enough money.
Tôi thích cái đó, (nhưng/mà/nhưng mà) tôi không có đủ tiền.

I like him, but not his friend. <-- sorry, this sentence makes me confused.
* case 1: I like him but I don't like (hate) his friend?
Tôi thích anh ta (nhưng/mà/nhưng mà) tôi không thích bạn anh ta
* case 2: I like him, not his friend.
Tôi thích anh ta, không phải bạn anh ta.
It's just an expression "not" + st. ="không phải" + st.

He is nice, but lazy.
Anh ta đẹp (nhưng/mà/nhưng mà) lười.

[Paddy]

ex:
Em đi xem xi nê mà anh không cho anh hay.
You went to the cinema with out let me know.

Anh không nhớ sao? cái tiệm mà em chỉ anh hôm đó!
Don't you remember? the store which was I showed you on that day!

Suggestion:

.........without letting me know. Without là 1 chữ.

the store which I showed you....

[LtDra]

Suggestion:

.........without letting me know. Without là 1 chữ.

the store which I show you....

thank you so much su' phọ hả.
BTW .
Can I say "...the store which I showed/ or shown you..." . Because the action happened in the past?