Definition

Verb: * To purse, to pout: To push one's lips forward and outward, often in a gesture of displeasure, sulking, or deep thought. This action typically makes the lips appear rounded and protruded.

Usage

The verb chảu is used to describe the specific facial expression of protruding the lips. It is often used with the object môi (lips) to form the common phrase chảu môi. * It describes a physical action resulting from an emotional state (e.g., sulking, being upset, thinking hard). * It is commonly used in informal, conversational contexts, especially when describing children or someone acting childishly.

Usage Examples

• Chảu:
  • Đứa bé không được mua đồ chơi, nó ngồi chảu môi ra. (The child couldn't buy the toy, so he sat there pouting.)
  • Cô ấy chảu môi khi nghe tin đó. (She pursed her lips when she heard the news.)
  • Nghĩ mãi không ra, nó chảu môi suy tư. (After thinking for a long time without an answer, he pursed his lips in thought.)

Advanced Usage

• Chảu môi chảu miệng: An intensified form emphasizing a pronounced, sulky pout.
  • Bé cứ chảu môi chảu miệng vì không được ăn kẹo. (The child kept making a big pout because she couldn't have candy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bĩu (verb): A very close synonym meaning to pout or purse the lips, often used interchangeably with chảu in bĩu môi.
• Chu (verb): A less common variant with the same meaning (to pout). The phrase chu môi is synonymous with chảu môi.

Synonyms

• Pout (verb): To push out the lips to show annoyance or bad humor.
• Purse (verb): To draw (the lips) together into a tight, rounded shape. (Note: "Purse" can also imply a more controlled, thoughtful gesture, while "pout" is more explicitly sulky.)

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Làm bộ chảu môi: To put on a pouting face, to pretend to sulk.
  • Đừng làm bộ chảu môi nữa, mẹ sẽ cho con ăn sau. (Stop putting on that pouting face; mom will let you eat later.)

verb

1. To purse, to pout
   • chảu môi
     to purse one's lips