The Vietnamese word "dở chừng" is an informal expression that means to be "half-way through" or "in the middle of doing something." It often indicates that a task or action has been interrupted or left incomplete.
Usage Instructions:
Use "dở chừng" when you want to describe a situation where someone has started a task but hasn't finished it yet.
It can be used in both spoken and written Vietnamese, but it is more common in casual conversations.
Example:
Sentence: "Tôi đang làm bài tập nhưng bị dở chừng vì mất điện."
Translation: "I was doing my homework but got interrupted because the power went out."
Advanced Usage:
You can combine "dở chừng" with other verbs to specify what action was interrupted. For example:
"dở chừng làm" (to be half-way through making)
"dở chừng đọc" (to be half-way through reading)
Word Variants:
"Dở" means "bad" or "poor" in some contexts, but here it relates to being incomplete or unfinished.
"Chừng" can imply "about" or "approximately," but in this phrase, it leans towards the idea of being in the midst of something.
Different Meanings:
While "dở chừng" primarily means "half-way through," it can also imply a sense of uncertainty or instability in a situation, suggesting that something may not go as planned.
Synonyms:
"Gián đoạn" - interrupted
"Chưa xong" - not finished
"Dở dang" - unfinished or incomplete
Conclusion:
In summary, "dở chừng" is a useful expression for describing tasks that are in progress but not completed.
(khẩu ngữ) Half-way through
Làm dở chừng
To be half-way through a job