bịt mũi
Definition
- Verb:
- To pinch one's nose, to cover one's nose: The action of using one's fingers or hand to close or cover the nostrils, typically to block out an unpleasant smell or to prevent water from entering the nose.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Mùi này khó chịu quá, tôi phải bịt mũi. (This smell is so unpleasant, I have to pinch my nose.)
- Khi xuống hồ bơi, nhớ bịt mũi lại. (When you go into the pool, remember to hold your nose.)
- Cô ấy bịt mũi khi đi ngang qua đống rác. (She covered her nose when walking past the garbage pile.)
Advanced Usage
- "bịt mũi bưng miệng": An idiom meaning to pinch one's nose and cover one's mouth, often used to describe an extreme reaction to a foul stench or a situation one finds disgusting or unbearable, implying one wants to block all senses.
- Mùi hôi đến mức mọi người đều bịt mũi bưng miệng. (The stench was so bad that everyone was pinching their noses and covering their mouths.)
Variants and Related Words
Bịt (verb): To cover, to block, to seal.
- bịt tai (to cover one's ears)
- bịt mắt (to blindfold, to cover one's eyes)
Nín thở (verb): To hold one's breath. This is a related action often performed along with bịt mũi.
- Anh ta bịt mũi và nín thở khi lặn xuống nước. (He pinched his nose and held his breath when diving underwater.)
Synonyms
- Bưng mũi (verb): To cover one's nose (often with the palm of the hand). This is a very close synonym.
- Cậu bé bưng mũi vì mùi sơn. (The boy covered his nose because of the paint smell.)
Related Phrases
- Bịt mũi không ngửi thấy: To pinch one's nose so as not to smell.
- Phải bịt mũi không ngửi thấy mùi thuốc sâu. (You have to pinch your nose so you don't smell the pesticide.)
Related Idioms
- "Ngửi thấy mùi... muốn bịt mũi": A common expression meaning "to smell something and want to pinch one's nose," used to emphasize a very bad odor.
- Ngửi thấy mùi từ nhà vệ sinh công cộng, ai cũng muốn bịt mũi. (Smelling the odor from the public toilet, everyone wanted to pinch their nose.)