Definition

1. Verb:
   • To have a tic of winking: To involuntarily and repeatedly wink or blink one eye, often due to a nervous habit or a minor muscular spasm.
   • To blink rapidly: To open and close one's eyes quickly several times, often in a noticeable or unusual manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta hấp háy mắt bên phải. (He has a tic of winking his right eye. / He keeps winking his right eye.)
  • Đứa trẻ hấp háy mắt liên tục khi nói chuyện. (The child blinks/winks his eyes continuously when talking.)
  • Cô ấy hấp háy mắt vì bị bụi bay vào. (She blinked rapidly because dust got in her eye.)

Advanced Usage

• "hấp háy mắt": This is the most common and complete collocation. The verb is almost always used with "mắt" (eyes) to specify the action.
  • Sau ca phẫu thuật, anh ấy bắt đầu hấp háy mắt. (After the surgery, he started to have a winking tic.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhấp nháy (verb): To flicker, to twinkle (used for lights, stars, or screens). This is a different word and should not be confused with "hấp háy," which is specifically for eyes.
  • Đèn tín hiệu nhấp nháy. (The signal light is flashing.)
• Chớp mắt (verb): To blink (a single, normal blink).
  • Cô ấy chớp mắt vài lần. (She blinked a few times.)

Synonyms

• Nháy mắt liên tục: To wink/blink continuously.
• Giật mắt: To have an eye twitch (can be a more general term for involuntary movement around the eye).

Notes on Meaning

• "Hấp háy" specifically describes a repeated, often involuntary action. It is not a single, deliberate wink.
• The action is typically noticeable to others and may be considered a minor physical habit or tic.
• The reference to "xem háy" in other dictionaries indicates it is a variant or related to the word "háy," which also pertains to winking or blinking.

1. Have the tic of winking
   • Anh ta hấp háy mắt bên phải
     He has got the tic of winking his right eye