giọt lệ
Definition
- Noun:
- A tear (drop): A single drop of liquid that comes from the eye when crying or due to strong emotion.
- A symbol of sadness or emotion: Often used metaphorically to represent sorrow, pity, or deep feeling.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Cô ấy lau đi một giọt lệ. (She wiped away a tear.)
- Câu chuyện cảm động khiến nhiều người rơi giọt lệ. (The touching story made many people shed tears.)
- Trong thơ ca, giọt lệ thường tượng trưng cho nỗi buồn. (In poetry, a tear often symbolizes sadness.)
Advanced Usage
"giọt lệ (của) trời" / "giọt lệ thiên nhiên": A poetic way to refer to raindrops.
- Những giọt lệ của trời rơi xuống mái hiên. (The tears of the sky fell on the porch roof.)
Used in formal or literary contexts to convey profound emotion.
- Bức thư chứa đầy những giọt lệ của người mẹ. (The letter was filled with the mother's tears.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nước mắt (n): Tears (the general concept or flow, as opposed to a single drop). is more specific and literary.
- Lệ (n, literary): A literary synonym for or . Often found in compound words or classical poetry.
- Giọt (n): Drop (of any liquid). (drop of water), (raindrop).
Synonyms
- Lệ (n, literary): Tear.
- Giọt nước mắt (n): Tear drop (more literal, less poetic than ).
Related Phrases
- Rơi lệ / Tuôn lệ (verb phrases): To shed tears.
- Bà ấy rơi lệ khi nghe tin. (She shed tears upon hearing the news.)
- Đẫm lệ (adj): Teary, soaked with tears.
- Đôi mắt đẫm lệ. (Eyes brimming with tears.)
Related Idioms
- Máu chảy ruột mềm (idiom): Blood is thicker than water (lit. "when blood flows, the heart softens"). While not containing , it relates to emotional bonds that might cause tears.
- Cười ra nước mắt (idiom): To laugh until you cry; a situation that is both funny and sad or frustrating.
- Tình huống ấy thật là cười ra nước mắt. (That situation was truly one to laugh until you cry.)