Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Moistened, slightly wet (especially referring to eyes): Describes the state when tears well up in the eyes, making them glisten or become wet, often indicating the onset of crying or being deeply moved.
   • On the verge of tears: Describes an emotional state where someone is about to cry, with tears just beginning to form.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy dân dấn nước mắt khi nghe tin buồn. (Her eyes moistened with tears upon hearing the sad news.)
  • Đôi mắt anh dân dấn vì xúc động. (His eyes were moist with emotion.)

Advanced Usage

• "dân dấn nước mắt": This is the most common and almost fixed collocation. It vividly describes the moment tears begin to form and the eyes become wet.
  • Nghe câu chuyện cảm động, mắt bà cụ dân dấn nước mắt. (Listening to the touching story, the old woman's eyes moistened with tears.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dấn dứt (verb): To hesitate, to be indecisive. (Note: This is a separate word with a different meaning, but it is phonetically similar and sometimes confused by learners.)
• Lệ nhòa (adjective/phrase): Eyes brimming with tears; a more literary synonym for a similar state.
• Ngân ngấn (adjective): Having tears welling up in the eyes; a very close synonym to "dân dấn".

Synonyms

• Ngân ngấn nước mắt: To have eyes welling up with tears.
• Rưng rưng: To be tearful, on the brink of tears (often implies a stronger, more visible emotional state).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Mắt dân dấn lệ": A slightly more poetic variant of "dân dấn nước mắt", meaning "eyes moist with tears".
  • Mắt chị dân dấn lệ trong ngày cưới. (Her eyes were moist with tears on her wedding day.)

1. Moisten the eyes
   • Dân dấn nước mắt, cố giữ mới khỏi khóc
     With tears moitening his eyes, he could hardly refain from crying