Definition of talk

talkverb

nói chuyện, trò chuyện, cuộc trò chuyện, cuộc thảo luận

/tɔːk/

Definition of undefined

The word "talk" has a fascinating history! The modern English word "talk" comes from the Old English word "talcan", which means "to chatter or prattle". This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*talliz", which is also related to the Modern German word "gallen", meaning "to tattle" or "to gossip". The Proto-Germanic word is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*tel-", which means "to stretch out" or "to extend". This root is also seen in other English words such as "talk", "tale", and "toll", among others. Over time, the meaning of the word "talk" expanded to encompass a range of meanings, including conversation, discussion, and even speech in general. Today, the word "talk" is an essential part of our daily language, used in various contexts, from casual chatter to formal debates.

speak to somebody

to say things; to speak in order to give information or to express ideas or feelings

để nói những điều; nói để cung cấp thông tin hoặc bày tỏ ý tưởng hoặc cảm xúc

Example:
  • Stop talking and listen!

    Hãy ngừng nói và lắng nghe!

  • We talked on the phone for over an hour.

    Chúng tôi nói chuyện điện thoại hơn một tiếng đồng hồ.

  • Who were you talking to just now?

    Vừa rồi cậu đang nói chuyện với ai thế?

  • Ann and Joe aren't talking to each other right now (= they refuse to speak to each other because they have argued).

    Ann và Joe hiện không nói chuyện với nhau (= họ từ chối nói chuyện với nhau vì họ đã tranh cãi).

  • Watch the scene where Don talks to himself in the mirror while shaving.

    Xem cảnh Don nói chuyện với chính mình trong gương khi đang cạo râu.

  • We looked around the school and talked with the principal.

    Chúng tôi nhìn quanh trường và nói chuyện với hiệu trưởng.

  • They talk a lot about the inspiration for their music.

    Họ nói rất nhiều về nguồn cảm hứng cho âm nhạc của họ.

  • When they get together, all they talk about is football.

    Khi gặp nhau, tất cả những gì họ nói chỉ là bóng đá.

  • What are you talking about? (= used when you are surprised, annoyed and/or worried by something that somebody has just said)

    Bạn đang nói về cái gì vậy? (= được sử dụng khi bạn ngạc nhiên, khó chịu và/hoặc lo lắng về điều gì đó mà ai đó vừa nói)

  • I don't know what you're talking about (= used to say that you did not do something that somebody has accused you of).

    Tôi không biết bạn đang nói về điều gì (= dùng để nói rằng bạn không làm điều gì đó mà ai đó đã buộc tội bạn).

  • to talk openly/freely/publicly about something

    nói chuyện một cách cởi mở/tự do/công khai về điều gì đó

  • She started talking loudly to her friends about the film they'd just seen.

    Cô ấy bắt đầu nói to với bạn bè về bộ phim họ vừa xem.

  • Mary is talking of looking for another job.

    Mary đang nói đến việc tìm kiếm một công việc khác.

  • We often talked of the war.

    Chúng tôi thường nói về chiến tranh.

  • We talked ourselves hoarse, catching up on all the news.

    Chúng tôi nói chuyện khàn khàn, cập nhật mọi tin tức.

Extra examples:
  • He was so easy to talk to.

    Anh ấy rất dễ nói chuyện.

  • I think you'd better talk directly to my manager.

    Tôi nghĩ tốt hơn bạn nên nói chuyện trực tiếp với quản lý của tôi.

  • I'll talk to John this afternoon.

    Chiều nay tôi sẽ nói chuyện với John.

  • I can't talk about it just now.

    Tôi không thể nói về nó bây giờ.

  • Bruce Springsteen has agreed to talk exclusively to our reporter about his life.

    Bruce Springsteen đã đồng ý nói chuyện riêng với phóng viên của chúng tôi về cuộc đời anh ấy.

  • I loved to hear him talk about the old days.

    Tôi thích nghe anh kể chuyện ngày xưa.

  • She talked quite freely about her work.

    Cô ấy nói khá thoải mái về công việc của mình.

  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.

    Anh ấy đã nói chuyện mơ hồ về việc đi làm việc ở nước ngoài.

  • He talked excitedly of his plans.

    Anh ấy hào hứng nói về kế hoạch của mình.

discuss

to discuss something, usually something serious or important

để thảo luận về một cái gì đó, thường là một cái gì đó nghiêm trọng hoặc quan trọng

Example:
  • This situation can't go on. We need to talk.

    Tình trạng này không thể tiếp tục được. Chúng ta cần nói chuyện.

  • The two sides in the dispute are finally willing to talk.

    Hai bên tranh chấp cuối cùng đã sẵn sàng đàm phán.

  • Talk with your doctor before radically changing your diet.

    Nói chuyện với bác sĩ trước khi thay đổi hoàn toàn chế độ ăn uống của bạn.

  • Is there anything you'd like to talk about?

    Có điều gì bạn muốn nói về không?

  • We want to talk to people about this issue.

    Chúng tôi muốn nói chuyện với mọi người về vấn đề này.

  • to talk politics

    nói chuyện chính trị

say words

to say words in a language

nói các từ trong một ngôn ngữ

Example:
  • The baby is just starting to talk.

    Bé mới bắt đầu biết nói.

  • Alex can't talk yet—he's only just one year old.

    Alex chưa biết nói—cậu bé chỉ mới một tuổi.

  • We couldn't understand them because they were talking in Chinese.

    Chúng tôi không thể hiểu họ vì họ nói bằng tiếng Trung Quốc.

  • Are they talking Swedish or Danish?

    Họ đang nói tiếng Thụy Điển hay tiếng Đan Mạch?

sense/nonsense

to say things that are/are not sensible

nói những điều không hợp lý

Example:
  • She talks a lot of sense.

    Cô ấy nói rất có lý.

  • You're talking rubbish!

    Bạn đang nói chuyện rác rưởi!

  • See if you can talk some sense into him (= persuade him to be sensible).

    Xem liệu bạn có thể nói chuyện có lý với anh ấy không (= thuyết phục anh ấy trở nên hợp lý).

for emphasis

used to emphasize an amount of money, how serious something is, etc.

được dùng để nhấn mạnh số tiền, mức độ nghiêm trọng của việc gì đó, v.v.

Example:
  • We're talking £500 for three hours' work.

    Chúng ta đang nói đến £500 cho ba giờ làm việc.

  • Do you know what this will cost? We’re talking megabucks here.

    Bạn có biết điều này sẽ có giá bao nhiêu không? Chúng ta đang nói về megabucks ở đây.

about private life

to talk about a person’s private life

nói về cuộc sống riêng tư của một người

Example:
  • Don't phone me at work—people will talk.

    Đừng gọi điện cho tôi ở nơi làm việc - mọi người sẽ nói chuyện.

Related words and phrases

give information

to give information to somebody, especially unwillingly

cung cấp thông tin cho ai đó, đặc biệt là không sẵn lòng

Example:
  • The police questioned him but he refused to talk.

    Cảnh sát đã thẩm vấn anh ta nhưng anh ta từ chối nói chuyện.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

knock/talk some sense into somebody
to try and persuade somebody to stop behaving in a stupid way, sometimes using rough or violent methods
  • Try and talk some sense into her before she makes the wrong decision.
  • Where would I be without you to knock some sense into my head?
    • know what you’re talking about
    (informal)to have knowledge about something from your own experience
  • I worked there for 20 years, so I know what I'm talking about.
    • look who’s talking | you can/can’t talk | you’re a fine one to talk
    (informal)used to tell somebody that they should not criticize somebody else for something because they do the same things too
  • ‘George is so careless with money.’ ‘Look who's talking!’
    • money talks
    (saying)people who have a lot of money have more power and influence than others
    now you’re talking
    (informal)used when you like what somebody has suggested very much
    speak/talk of the devil
    (informal)people say speak/talk of the devil when somebody they have been talking about appears unexpectedly
  • Well, speak of the devil—here's Alice now!
    • speak/talk out of turn
    to say something that you should not because it is the wrong situation or because it offends somebody
    speak/talk the same language
    to be able to communicate easily with another person because you share similar opinions and experience
    talk about…
    (informal)used to emphasize something
  • Talk about mean! She didn't even buy me a card.
    • talk dirty
    (informal)to talk to somebody about sex in order to make them sexually excited
    talk a good game
    to talk in a way that sounds convincing, but may not be sincere
  • The senior managers talk a good game about customer relations, but really they don't care about the customer.
    • talk the hind legs off a donkey
    (informal)to talk too much, especially about things that are boring or not important
    talking of somebody/something
    (informal, especially British English)used when you are going to say more about a subject that has already been mentioned
  • Talking of Sue, I met her new boyfriend last week.
    • talk/speak of the devil
    (informal)people say talk/speak of the devil when somebody they have been talking about appears unexpectedly
  • Well, talk of the devil—here's Alice now!
    • talk shop
    (usually disapproving)to talk about your work with the people you work with, especially when you are also with other people who are not connected with or interested in it
  • Whenever we meet up with Clive and Sue they always end up talking shop.
    • talk the talk
    (informal, sometimes disapproving)to be able to talk in a confident way that makes people think you are good at what you do
  • You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? (= can you act in a way that matches your words?)
    • talk through your hat
    (old-fashioned, informal)to say silly things while you are talking about a subject you do not understand
    talk tough (on something)
    (informal, especially North American English)to tell people very strongly what you want
    talk turkey
    (informal, especially North American English)to talk about something seriously
    talk your way out of something/of doing something
    to make excuses and give reasons for not doing something; to manage to get yourself out of a difficult situation
  • I managed to talk my way out of having to give a speech.
    • you can/can't talk | look who's talking | you're a fine one to talk
    (informal)used to tell somebody that they should not criticize somebody else for something because they do the same things too
    you're a fine one to talk | look who's talking | you can/can't talk
    (informal)used to tell somebody that they should not criticize somebody else for something because they do the same things too