Definition

1. Verb:
   • To smile subtly or gently: To form a slight, often restrained, and graceful smile with the lips, typically without showing teeth or making a sound. It often conveys politeness, shyness, contentment, or a hint of amusement.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy chỉ cười nụ khi nhận được lời khen. (She only gave a subtle smile when receiving the compliment.)
  • Anh ấy cười nụ một mình khi nhớ lại kỷ niệm cũ. (He smiled gently to himself when recalling the old memory.)
  • Thấy đứa trẻ ngủ ngon, bà cười nụ hài lòng. (Seeing the child sleep soundly, the grandmother smiled a satisfied smile.)

Advanced Usage

• "cười nụ cười": This is a more descriptive or emphatic form, meaning "to smile a subtle smile."

  • Cô ấy cười nụ cười đầy bí ẩn. (She smiled a mysterious, subtle smile.)

• "nụ cười" (noun): While "cười nụ" is a verb phrase, the related noun "nụ cười" means "a smile." It is a common compound word.

  • Nụ cười của cô ấy thật ấm áp. (Her smile is very warm.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cười mỉm (verb): A close synonym, also meaning "to smile subtly/slightly." The nuance is very similar, though "cười mỉm" might sometimes imply a more knowing or thoughtful smile.
• Cười tủm (verb): To smile to oneself, often with a sense of secret amusement or shyness.
• Nụ cười (noun): Smile.

Synonyms

• Cười mỉm: To smile subtly.
• Mỉm cười: To smile (a more literary or formal variant of "cười mỉm").

Related Phrases

• "cười nụ duyên": To smile a charming, graceful smile.
  • Ánh mắt và cười nụ duyên của cô ấy thu hút mọi người. (Her gaze and charming smile attract everyone.)

Related Idioms

• "Cười nụ ba mươi": This is a humorous, old-fashioned idiom describing a forced or polite smile that is not genuinely happy, akin to a "social smile."
  • Trong buổi tiệc, anh ta toàn cười nụ ba mươi với khách. (At the party, he kept giving polite, forced smiles to the guests.)