Definition

Verb: - To open one's mouth very wide, often due to surprise, shock, or intense focus. It describes a gaping mouth, typically an involuntary reaction.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the physical action of having one's mouth agape. It often implies a strong emotional state like astonishment, disbelief, or deep concentration that causes this reaction. - It is commonly used with words for mouth (miệng) or maw (mồm). - It frequently appears in contexts describing reactions to surprising news, shocking sights, or while staring intently at something.

Usage Examples

• (The boy gaped at the parade.)
• (Upon hearing that news, everyone's jaws dropped in astonishment.)
• (He sat there with his mouth hanging open, staring at the TV screen all afternoon.)

Advanced Usage / Nuances

• há hốc mồm/miệng ra: The addition of ra emphasizes the action of the mouth falling open. It is a very common colloquial construction.
  • Thấy cảnh tượng lạ, nó há hốc mồm ra nhìn. (Seeing the strange sight, he gaped at it.)
• The word carries a slightly informal or colloquial (khẩu ngữ) tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Hả (verb): To open one's mouth. This is the root verb, less intense than há hốc.
• Há (verb): To open wide (mouth, legs). Can be used similarly but há hốc emphasizes a much wider, more exaggerated opening.
• Béant (French loanword, adjective): Gaping, wide open. Used in more literary contexts.
• Bợ ngợ (verb, colloquial): To stand around idly with one's mouth open, often implying stupidity or cluelessness. This is a related but distinct concept focusing on the idle state rather than the reaction.

Synonyms

• Trợn mắt há mồm: An idiom meaning "to stare wide-eyed with mouth agape," expressing extreme surprise. This is a stronger, more vivid synonym.
• Ngạc nhiên đến sửng sốt: To be astonished to the point of being stunned. This describes the internal feeling rather than the physical action.

Related Idioms / Expressions

• (Câm như) hến: (To be as silent as) a clam. This idiom describes someone who is completely silent and does not speak, sometimes while their mouth is figuratively "shut." It is an antonymic concept to the open-mouthed state of há hốc.

verb

1. to gape; to open wide one's mouth