Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Gaudy; showy; flashy: Refers to something that is superficially attractive or impressive in appearance, but often lacks substance, quality, or genuine value. It emphasizes a deceptive or excessive outward brilliance.
   • Deceptively brilliant; specious: Describes an appearance that is misleadingly splendid or attractive, concealing a less impressive or flawed reality.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Chiếc xe đó trông rất hào nhoáng với lớp sơn bóng loáng, nhưng động cơ lại rất cũ. (That car looks very flashy with its glossy paint, but the engine is very old.)
  • Anh ta chỉ thích những thứ hào nhoáng bên ngoài mà không quan tâm đến chất lượng thực sự. (He only likes things that are showy on the outside and doesn't care about real quality.)
  • Lời hứa của công ty đó nghe có vẻ hào nhoáng, nhưng thực tế lại không mang lại lợi ích gì. (That company's promises sound specious, but in reality, they bring no benefits.)

Advanced Usage

• "vẻ hào nhoáng": the showiness; the flashy appearance.
  • Đừng bị đánh lừa bởi vẻ hào nhoáng bên ngoài. (Don't be fooled by the flashy exterior.)
• Used to describe abstract concepts like promises, speeches, or lifestyles that are attractive in presentation but empty or insincere in content.
  • một lối sống hào nhoáng (a glitzy lifestyle)
  • những lời lẽ hào nhoáng (high-sounding but empty words)

Variants and Related Words

• Hào nhoáng is primarily used as an adjective. There is no direct noun or verb form of this exact word.
• Related Concept: Hào hoa (adj): Describes someone who is elegant, refined, and sophisticated, often with a taste for the finer things. This can sometimes be confused with , but generally has a more positive connotation of genuine style, whereas is negative and implies superficiality.

Synonyms

• Phô trương: Ostentatious; showy (often with the intent to boast).
• Lòe loẹt: Gaudy; garish (with overly bright or clashing colors).
• Bóng bẩy: Glossy; polished (can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context).
• Giả tạo: Fake; artificial (shares the concept of lacking genuineness).

Antonyms

• Giản dị: Simple; plain.
• Mộc mạc: Rustic; plain and simple.
• Chân chất: Sincere; unpretentious.
• Thực chất: Substantial; of real substance.

Related Idioms

• "Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn": Literally "Good wood is better than good paint." This proverb teaches that inner quality/substance ( - wood) is more valuable than a pleasing but superficial appearance ( - paint/varnish). It is a direct philosophical counter to anything .
  • Hãy nhớ câu "tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn", đừng chỉ chọn thứ hào nhoáng. (Remember the saying "substance over style," don't just choose what's flashy.)

adj

1. gandy; tandy; showy