Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Pleasant to the ear; agreeable to hear: Describes words, speech, or sounds that are soothing, flattering, or satisfying to listen to. It often implies a sense of comfort or gratification for the listener.
   • Palatable; honeyed: Refers specifically to language that is sweet-sounding, ingratiating, or designed to please, sometimes with a connotation of being insincere or flattering.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Lời khen của anh ấy nghe rất bùi tai. (His compliment sounds very pleasant to the ear.)
  • Đừng tin vào những lời nói bùi tai. (Don't believe those honeyed words.)
  • Âm nhạc ấy thật sự bùi tai. (That music is truly agreeable to hear.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in a figurative sense to describe auditory or verbal experiences. It is rarely, if ever, used to describe physical taste, despite the adjective "bùi" (earthy, nutty taste) in its composition.
• It can carry a subtle negative nuance, suggesting that the pleasant words might be deceptive or exaggerated, as in empty flattery.

Variants and Related Words

• Êm tai (adj): literally "soft/gentle to the ear"; a close synonym for pleasant-sounding, often used for melodies or tones.
  • Giai điệu êm tai. (A melodious tune.)

Synonyms

• Pleasant-sounding
• Agreeable (to the ear)
• Melodious (in context)
• Honeyed (for speech)
• Flattering

Related Idioms

• Đường mật ngọt ngào, lời nói bùi tai: A proverb contrasting physical sweetness (honey) with verbal sweetness (pleasant words), often warning about seductive or deceptive speech.
• Ngọt ngào bùi tai: A reinforcing phrase meaning "sweet and pleasant to the ear," emphasizing the ingratiating quality of speech.

1. Palatable, honeyed
   • câu nói bùi tai
     a palatable sentence
   • nghe rất bùi tai
     it sounds palatable