Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Merry; Gay; Radiant: Describes a facial expression or demeanor that is visibly bright, cheerful, and beaming with joy or excitement. It conveys a sense of open, unrestrained happiness.
   • Elated; Beaming: Indicates a state of high spirits where joy is clearly reflected on one's face, often due to good news or a pleasant event.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Khi nhận được quà, nó trông rất hớn hở. (When receiving the gift, he looked very merry/radiant.)
  • Cô ấy bước vào phòng với khuôn mặt hớn hở báo tin vui. (She entered the room with a beaming face to announce the good news.)
  • Thấy mẹ về, đứa bé hớn hở chạy ra đón. (Seeing her mother return, the child gleefully ran out to greet her.)

Advanced Usage

• The word hớn hở is often used to describe a temporary, vivid outward display of emotion, typically happiness or satisfaction, that lights up the entire face. It is stronger than simply "vui" (happy) and implies a visible, physical manifestation of joy.

Variants and Related Words

• Hớn hở is primarily used as an adjective. There are no direct verb or noun variants of this exact word.
• Hân hoan (adj): jubilant, overjoyed (often for a larger, more celebratory context).
• Tươi cười (v/phrase): to smile brightly.

Synonyms

• Beaming: shining with happiness.
• Radiant: brightly showing joy.
• Elated: very happy and excited.
• Joyful: full of joy.
• Gleeful: full of glee, exuberantly joyful.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mặt mày hớn hở: A common phrase emphasizing the facial expression, meaning "with a face beaming with joy."
  • Anh ta bước ra từ phòng phỏng vấn, mặt mày hớn hở. (He walked out of the interview room, his face beaming with joy.)

adj

1. merry; gay; radiant