không bao

/kəwŋˈɓaːw/
phraseIntermediate
informal

Used to emphasize the complete absence or negation of something, often with a sense of strong denial or surprise.

Anh ấy không bao giờ đến muộn.

He never comes late.

Tôi không bao hề biết điều đó.

I didn't know that at all.

💡

This phrase is commonly used to emphasize negation, often with a stronger effect than 'không' alone.

Collocations

không bao giờneverkhông bao hềnot at all

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

không bao giờphrase
never
không bao hềphrase
not at all

💡Pro Tip

Emphasis

Use 'không bao' to emphasize that something did not happen or does not exist at all.

Gold Rule

Negation

This phrase is stronger than 'không' alone and is often used to express surprise or strong denial.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the combination of 'không' (not) and 'bao' (ever), emphasizing complete negation.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is often used in spoken Vietnamese to express strong negation or surprise. It can be combined with verbs or adjectives to emphasize the absence of an action or quality.

Word Breakdown

không
not
root
+
bao
ever
root
Từ Điển Việt Anh