Definition

1. Interjection:

   • Alas; Oh: An exclamation expressing strong emotion, often sudden surprise, pain, regret, disappointment, or admiration.
   • What; How: Used to intensify an adjective or statement, expressing a high degree of a quality.

2. Adjective:

   • Tainted; Spoiled; Slightly rotten: Describes food, especially meat or fish, that is beginning to decay and develop an unpleasant smell, but is not fully rotten.
   • Stale: Can describe bread or pastries that are no longer fresh.

Usage Examples

• Interjection:

  • Ôi, tôi quên ví rồi! (Oh, I forgot my wallet!)
  • Ôi, đau quá! (Ouch, that hurts!)
  • Ôi, cảnh đẹp quá! (Oh, what a beautiful view!)

• Adjective:

  • Đừng ăn thịt ôi. (Don't eat tainted meat.)
  • Bánh mì này đã hơi ôi. (This bread is a bit stale.)

Advanced Usage

• "than ôi": alas; woe is me. A literary or formal interjection expressing deep sorrow or lament.

  • Than ôi, thời oanh liệt nay còn đâu! (Alas, the glorious days are gone!)

• "Trời ôi!": Oh my God!; Good heavens! A common exclamation of shock or surprise.

  • Trời ôi, cái gì thế này! (Oh my God, what is this!)

Variants and Related Words

• Ôi thôi: An interjection often signaling resignation, "oh well," or "that's it."

  • Ôi thôi, hỏng hết rồi. (Oh well, it's all ruined.)

• Ôi chao: A variant of "ôi" expressing surprise or pity.

  • Ôi chao, tội nghiệp nó quá. (Oh dear, I feel so sorry for him/her.)

Synonyms

• Interjection: Alas, oh, ah, wow.
• Adjective: Spoiled, rancid, off, stale.

Related Idioms and Proverbs

• Của rẻ là của ôi: Literally "Cheap goods are spoiled goods." Equivalent to "You get what you pay for" or "If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly." It warns that inexpensive items are often of poor quality.
  • Đừng mua cái máy đó, của rẻ là của ôi đấy. (Don't buy that machine, you get what you pay for.)

adj

1. tainted (meat); putrid (flesh)
   • cản thán.
     alas
   • than ôi!
     alas!what; how