Definition

1. Verb:
   • To fade; to wither: "héo hắt" describes the process of losing vitality, freshness, or vigor, becoming dry, weak, and lifeless. It often conveys a sense of gradual decline and exhaustion.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Những bông hoa héo hắt dưới cái nắng mùa hè. (The flowers withered under the summer sun.)
  • Sau tin đó, tinh thần cô ấy héo hắt đi trông thấy. (After that news, her spirit visibly faded.)
  • Nụ cười trên môi anh héo hắt. (The smile on his lips faded.)

Advanced Usage

• "héo hắt" to describe abstract concepts: The word is often used metaphorically to describe emotions, hopes, or atmospheres that lose their vitality.
  • Hy vọng trong lòng tôi dần héo hắt. (The hope in my heart gradually withered away.)
  • Một bầu không khí héo hắt bao trùm căn phòng. (A withered atmosphere enveloped the room.)

Variants and Related Words

• Héo (verb): to wilt, to wither. This is the root word and is more general.
  • Lá cây bắt đầu héo. (The leaves are starting to wilt.)
• Héo hon (adjective): withered, haggard; describes a state of being worn out and exhausted.
  • Gương mặt héo hon vì lo lắng. (A face haggard with worry.)
• Héo úa (verb): to wither, to shrivel; emphasizes a dry, shriveled state.
  • Cánh đồng héo úa vì hạn hán. (The field withered due to drought.)

Synonyms

• Tàn lụi (verb): to perish, to decline and die out.
• Úa tàn (verb): to fade and wither.
• Khô héo (verb): to dry up and wither.

Related Idioms

• "Héo hon vì nhớ": To be haggard/worn out from longing or missing someone.
  • Người đi, kẻ ở héo hon vì nhớ. (The one who left, the one who stayed, both worn out from longing.)
• "Ruột gan héo hắt": A feeling of deep sorrow or despair that makes one feel withered inside.
  • Nghe tin dữ, ruột gan tôi héo hắt. (Upon hearing the bad news, my insides felt withered.)

verb

1. to fade; to wither