Definition

Verb: - To break (of the sun/weather): Refers to the sun beginning to appear or shine weakly after a period of rain or overcast weather, indicating a slight clearing. - To clear up slightly: Describes the weather condition when it becomes a little sunny or brightens up.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trời mưa cả tuần, sáng nay mới hé nắng. (It rained all week; only this morning did the sun break through.)
  • Nhìn ra cửa sổ, tôi thấy trời đang hé nắng. (Looking out the window, I see the sky is clearing up a bit.)
  • Chiều nay trời có hé nắng không? (Will the sun come out a little this afternoon?)

Advanced Usage

• This verb is almost exclusively used to describe weather, specifically the sun appearing after bad weather. It implies a weak, initial, or tentative appearance of sunlight, not full sunshine.
• It often carries a positive connotation of relief or hope after gloomy conditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Hửng nắng (verb): A very close synonym, also meaning the sun begins to shine faintly. (e.g., )
• Éclaircie (noun, from French loan context): A clearing, a break in the clouds. This is the nominal form of the weather phenomenon described by "hé nắng".

Synonyms

• To clear (up): (Trời) quang đãng, sáng sủa trở lại. (This can imply a more complete clearing than "hé nắng".)
• To break through (of the sun): Mặt trời ló ra/xuyên qua.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning is the initial, often faint, appearance of sunlight after rain or cloudiness. It does not mean "to break" in the general sense (like breaking an object). That general meaning is expressed by other verbs like "làm vỡ", "bẻ gãy".
• The word is a combination of "hé" (to open slightly, to peek) and "nắng" (sunshine), creating a vivid image of the sun peeking out.

verb

1. to break