bao giờ

Friendly

The Vietnamese phrase "bao giờ" translates to "when" in English. It is commonly used to ask about the time something will happen or to refer to a specific time in the future.

Usage Instructions:

• Basic Questions: Use "bao giờ" to ask when something will occur.
• Affirmative Statements: It can also be used to express that something has always been the case or to indicate that something has not changed over time.
• In Negative or Ever Contexts: You can use "bao giờ" to ask if something has happened at any time in the past.

Examples:

1. Asking a Question:
   • "Bao giờ anh ta sẽ đến đây?" (When will he come here?)
2. Referring to a Future Event:
   • "Việc ấy bao giờ xảy ra sẽ hay." (We shall see when it happens.)
3. Asking About Past Experiences:
   • "Anh có thấy con sư tử bao giờ chưa?" (Have you ever seen a lion?)
4. In a Negative Context:
   • "Anh có trễ xe buýt bao giờ chưa?" (Do you ever miss the bus?)
5. Expressing Consistency:
   • "Anh ta vẫn như bao giờ, không có gì thay đổi." (He is just like ever; he has not changed a bit.)
6. Expressing Increased Confidence:
   • "Tự tin hơn bao giờ cả." (More confident than ever.)

Advanced Usage:

• "Bao giờ" can also imply a sense of anticipation or uncertainty about the timing of future events. For example, when expressing that something is overdue or expected but not yet realized.
• It can be used in idiomatic expressions, such as "bảo từ bao giờ mà vẫn chưa làm," meaning "I have told you ever since, and the job is still undone."

Variants:

• "Bao giờ" itself does not have direct variants in terms of different forms, but it can be paired with other words to create phrases, such as "bao giờ cũng" (whenever, always).

Different Meanings:

• While primarily meaning "when," "bao giờ" can sometimes be used in contexts to imply "ever" or "at any time," especially in questions about past experiences.

Synonyms:

• "Khi nào" (when) is a synonym but is often used in more formal contexts.
• "Lúc nào" (at what time) can also be used similarly, but "bao giờ" is more common in casual conversations.

Academic

1. When
   • không biết bao giờ cô ta trở lại
     No one knows when she returns
   • bao giờ anh ta sẽ đến đây?
     when will he come here?
   • việc ấy bao giờ xảy ra sẽ hay
     we shall see to it when it happens
2. Ever
   • anh có trễ xe buýt bao giờ chưa?
     Do you ever miss the bus?
   • anh có thấy con sư tử bao giờ chưa?
     have you ever seen a lion?
   • bảo từ bao giờ mà vẫn chưa làm
     I have told you ever since and the job is still undone
   • anh ta vẫn như bao giờ, không có gì thay đổi
     he is just like ever, he has not changed a bit
   • tự tin hơn bao giờ cả