Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Rosy, ruddy: Describes a healthy, reddish complexion, typically on the cheeks or face, often due to good health, cold weather, or physical exertion. It conveys a sense of vibrant, warm color.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Má đỏ hây hây. (Rosy cheeks.)
  • Ông cụ da đỏ hây hây. (An old man with a ruddy complexion.)
  • Sau khi chạy bộ, cô ấy có khuôn mặt hây hây. (After jogging, she had a rosy face.)

Advanced Usage

• "hây hây" is primarily used in descriptive literary or poetic contexts to vividly depict a person's complexion. It is not typically used for objects.
  • Gió lạnh làm đôi má em bé ửng hồng hây hây. (The cold wind made the baby's cheeks glow a rosy red.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hây: A less common, shortened poetic form with the same meaning as "hây hây".
  • Má hây (Rosy cheeks) - This usage is very rare and literary.

Synonyms

• Hồng hào: Rosy, glowing (often implies healthy and beautiful).
• Ửng hồng: Flushed, blushing (often from shyness, emotion, or temperature).
• Đỏ au: Bright red (can be used for complexion but also for objects; sometimes implies a more intense or less natural red than "hây hây").

Notes on Usage

• "Hây hây" is a reduplicative word (từ láy), which is common in Vietnamese for creating vivid imagery. It is almost exclusively used as an adjective following color words like "đỏ" (red) or "hồng" (pink) to describe skin tone.
• It carries a positive connotation of health and vitality. It is not used to describe redness from sunburn or anger, which would use words like "đỏ ửng" or "đỏ bừng".

1. Rosy, ruddy
   • Má đỏ hây hây
     Rosy cheeks
   • Ông cụ da đỏ hây hây
     An old man with a ruddy complexion