khi không

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The Vietnamese phrase "khi không" translates to "by chance" or "by accident" in English. It is often used to describe situations where something happens unexpectedly or without any planning.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "khi không" when you want to express that an event occurred unexpectedly or was not intended.
• It can be used in both casual conversations and more formal contexts, depending on the surrounding words and the overall tone of the sentence.

Example Sentences:

1. Khi không, tôi gặp lại bạn cũ ở siêu thị.

   • "By chance, I ran into an old friend at the supermarket."

2. Tôi đã thấy bức tranh này khi không, và tôi đã mua nó ngay lập tức.

   • "I saw this painting by accident, and I bought it immediately."

Advanced Usage:

In more complex sentences, "khi không" can also convey a sense of irony or surprise about an unexpected outcome. For example: - Khi không có ai báo trước, tôi được thăng chức. - "By accident, I was promoted without anyone notifying me beforehand."

Word Variants:

• Khi: means "when."
• Không: means "not" or "no." The combination of these two words creates a phrase that expresses events happening unexpectedly.

Different Meanings:

While "khi không" primarily means "by chance," in some contexts, it can also imply a sense of randomness or lack of purpose, such as when someone does something without a clear reason.

Synonyms:

• Tình cờ: means "coincidentally" or "by coincidence." It can often be used interchangeably with "khi không."
• Ngẫu nhiên: means "randomly" or "accidentally," which can also fit in similar contexts.

Cultural Reference:

The saying you provided, "có vất vả mới có thanh nhàn, khi không ai dễ cầm tàn che cho," emphasizes the idea that leisure and comfort come from hard work and that it's not common for someone to help you without effort. This reflects a cultural value in Vietnamese society that respects hard work and the importance of earning one's rewards.

Academic

1. By chance, by accident
   • Có vất vả mới có thanh nhàn, Khi không ai dễ cầm tàn che cho (ca dao)
     Leisure only come frome hard work, It is no accident that someone holds a parasol for you