Definition

1. Verb:

   • To overflow, to overbrim, to boil over: To flow over the top of a container's edge, often due to being too full or boiling vigorously. This is the core, literal meaning.
   • (Figurative) To well up, to surge (with emotion): To rise and become very strong or abundant, typically used for feelings or emotions filling one's heart.

2. Adjective (Archaic/Literary):

   • Abundant, copious, full: Describing something that exists in large quantities. This usage is now rare and found primarily in classical or poetic contexts.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Literal):

  • Nồi nước sôi dào ra ngoài. (The pot of boiling water overflowed.)
  • Bọt dào lên mặt hồ. (Foam boiled up/overflowed onto the lake's surface.)

• Verb (Figurative):

  • Lòng cô ấy dào lên một niềm thương cảm. (Her heart welled up with compassion.)
  • Nỗi nhớ nhà dào dạt trong lòng anh. (Homesickness surged within him.)

Advanced Usage

• "dào dạt": An intensified, reduplicative form meaning "to surge abundantly," "to flow copiously." It is commonly used for emotions or natural phenomena like waves.

  • Tình yêu thương dào dạt. (Love flows abundantly.)
  • Sóng biển dào dạt. (The sea waves surge copiously.)

• "dào lên": A common phrase meaning "to rise up and overflow" or "to well up."

  • Nước mắt dào lên trong mắt cô. (Tears welled up in her eyes.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trào: A near-synonym meaning "to gush," "to spurt," or "to overflow." It can be used interchangeably with "dào" in many contexts but often implies a more forceful or sudden flow.

  • Nước mắt trào ra. (Tears gushed out.)

• Dạt (in "dào dạt"): Contributes to the meaning of "abundant flow" or "surge."

Synonyms

• Tràn: To spill over, to flood.
• Ứa ra: To well up (often for tears).
• Tuôn trào: To gush out, to pour forth.

Related Phrases

• "Nước mắt dào ra": Tears welled up/overflowed.
• "Cảm xúc dâng trào": Emotions surge/rise up (using the synonym "trào").

Notes on Usage

• The word "dào" is primarily used in its verbal forms. The adjectival sense ("abundant") is archaic.
• In modern spoken Vietnamese, it is most frequently encountered in the figurative sense describing emotions or in the compound "dào dạt".
• The interjectional use ("bah!") referenced in some historical dictionaries is obsolete and not used in contemporary language.

1. Overflow, overbrim, boil over
   • Bọt nước dào lên trắng xóa
     White foam was overflowing
   • Lòng dào lên niềm yêu thương vô hạn
     A heart overflowing with boundless love.
2. (khẩu ngữ) như dà