Definition

1. Verb:
   • To dry one's tears: The primary meaning of "gạt lệ" is the physical action of wiping away tears from one's eyes.
   • To suppress one's sorrow, to cry silently: It can also describe the emotional act of holding back tears or crying quietly in sadness or grief.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy nhẹ nhàng gạt lệ trước khi bước vào phòng. (She gently dried her tears before entering the room.)
  • Nghe tin buồn, anh ấy chỉ biết quay đi và gạt lệ. (Hearing the sad news, he could only turn away and wipe his tears.)
  • Trong lòng đầy tủi hờn, nàng lặng lẽ gạt lệ. (Full of sorrow and resentment, she silently wiped her tears.)

Advanced Usage

• "gạt lệ chia tay": to dry tears when parting/separating.
  • Không một lời trách móc, cô gạt lệ chia tay anh. (Without a word of blame, she dried her tears and parted with him.)
• Used in literary and poetic contexts to convey deep, restrained emotion.
  • Gạt lệ, nàng cố gắng mỉm cười. (Wiping her tears, she tried to smile.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lau nước mắt (verb phrase): A more common, direct synonym meaning "to wipe tears."
• Chấm nước mắt (verb phrase): To dab one's tears (a more delicate action).
• Gạt (verb): To wipe away, to brush aside (can be used with other objects, e.g., - to wipe sweat).

Synonyms

• Lau khô nước mắt: To dry tears.
• Chùi nước mắt: To wipe tears.
• Kìm nén nước mắt: To hold back tears (focuses on suppression).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Nuốt nước mắt vào trong": To swallow one's tears (implies hiding deep sadness).
  • While not identical, it shares the thematic connection of internalizing sorrow, whereas "gạt lệ" often implies a visible, though restrained, action.
• "Cười trong nước mắt": To smile through tears.
  • This describes a mixed emotional state, which could be a context where one "gạt lệ."

verb

1. to dry one's tears