Skip to content
Dictionary

basically

/ˈbeɪsɪkli/
B2adverb

Used to describe the most important aspects of a situation or to summarize an opinion

Concreteness 1.3/5 · Abstract

Tiếng Việt

về cơ bản

BÊI-xích-lì

Nhấn mạnh vào âm tiết đầu BÊI, âm 's' đọc nhẹ như x tiếng Việt, kết thúc bằng âm 'lì' xuống giọng.

Được dùng để mô tả những khía cạnh quan trọng nhất của một tình huống hoặc để tóm tắt một ý kiến.

Meanings

2 meanings

  1. 1In the most important ways, without considering things that are less importantgeneral

    Xét về những khía cạnh quan trọng nhất, không tính đến những thứ ít quan trọng hơn; về cơ bản

    “I think we are basically saying the same thing.”

    “Tôi nghĩ về cơ bản là chúng ta đang nói cùng một điều thôi.”

    • The car's basically OK, but the paintwork needs some attention.
    • The village has remained basically unchanged for over 300 years.
    • He is basically a nice man.
    • The two approaches are basically very similar.

    Dùng khi bạn muốn bỏ qua các chi tiết nhỏ để tập trung vào bản chất của vấn đề. Thường đứng trước tính từ hoặc động từ.

  2. 2Used when you are giving your opinion or stating what is important about a situationcommunication

    Được dùng khi bạn đưa ra ý kiến hoặc nêu rõ điều gì là quan trọng trong một tình huống; tóm lại là, chủ yếu là

    “Basically, there's not a lot we can do about it.”

    “Tóm lại là, chúng ta không thể làm gì nhiều về việc đó cả.”

    • Basically, they want a lot more information about the project before they'll put any money into it.
    • So basically, I'm waiting for a phone call.
    • Well, basically, it's a complicated story.

    Trong văn nói, 'Basically' thường đứng đầu câu để dẫn dắt vào ý chính. Người Việt hay dịch là 'Nói chung là' hoặc 'Tóm lại là'.

Word bank

Common phrases

  • basically the same
  • basically correct
  • basically sound
  • remain basically unchanged

Grammar & forms

Grammar

  • intransitive

Word family

Usage patterns

  • basically + adjective
  • basically + verb
  • Basically, + sentence

Avoid mistakes

Common mistakes

  • Basically I am agreeing with you.

    Basically, I agree with you.

    When used as a sentence adverb at the start, use a comma and standard tense.

  • He is basicly a good person.

    He is basically a good person.

    Spelling error: don't forget the 'al' in 'basically' (basic + ally).

Don't confuse with

  • technically

    according to the exact details or rules, but often missing the main point

    “Technically we are open, but the kitchen is closed.”

    Use 'basically' for the big picture, 'technically' for strict details.

Academic collocations

Words that pair with "basically" in formal and academic writing

verb
remainagreediffer
adjective
unchangedcorrectsimilaridentical

In context

Real-world examples

  • daily life

    Basically, we need to reduce our monthly expenses to save for the Tet holiday.

    Về cơ bản, chúng ta cần cắt giảm chi tiêu hàng tháng để tiết kiệm cho dịp Tết.

    Tet is the most significant spending period in Vietnam; focusing on the 'basic' necessity of saving is common.

  • business

    The two proposals are basically the same in terms of budget.

    Hai bản đề xuất này về cơ bản là giống nhau về mặt ngân sách.

    In Vietnamese business culture, summarizing core similarities helps speed up the decision-making process.

  • academic

    Basically, the experiment proved that the hypothesis was correct.

    Về cơ bản, thí nghiệm đã chứng minh rằng giả thuyết là đúng.

    Using 'về cơ bản' is a standard way to introduce conclusions in Vietnamese academic writing.

  • daily life

    I'm basically looking for a motorbike that is fuel-efficient.

    Chủ yếu là tôi đang tìm một chiếc xe máy tiết kiệm xăng.

    Motorbikes are the primary transport in Vietnam; 'basically' here filters out secondary features like color or brand.

Notes for Vietnamese speakers

  • In Vietnamese conversation, people often use 'nói chung là' or 'về cơ bản là' as fillers, similar to how 'basically' is used in English.
  • Be careful not to over-rely on 'basically' in formal Vietnamese contexts, as it can sometimes sound like you are oversimplifying a complex issue [VERIFY_CULTURE].
  • Vietnamese learners often confuse 'basically' with 'actually'. 'Basically' focuses on the core/foundation, while 'actually' focuses on the truth/fact.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective 'basic' + suffix '-ally'. 'Basic' comes from the 19th century, relating to a base or foundation.

Exam levels

IELTS

6.0

CEFR

B2

TOEIC

705-800

More in Vietnamese

Plant “basically” in your grove

Save it as a seed, review it on a spaced schedule, and harvest it once you can use it yourself.

Start your grove