Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To open one's lips; to part one's lips (as if to speak): The act of slightly opening the mouth or lips, typically indicating an intention or attempt to speak, but often without actually uttering words. It implies a moment of hesitation or an unspoken thought.
   • To reveal a secret; to let slip information: To begin to speak about something that is supposed to be kept confidential.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Cô ấy chỉ hở môi rồi lại im bặt. (She just parted her lips and then fell silent again.)
  • Anh ta biết tất cả bí mật nhưng không bao giờ hở môi. (He knows all the secrets but never lets a word slip.)
  • Nhìn vẻ mặt lo lắng của anh ấy, tôi định hỏi nhưng chưa kịp hở môi thì anh đã đi mất. (Seeing his worried face, I intended to ask but before I could even open my mouth, he had already left.)

Advanced Usage

• "Biết chuyện nhưng không dám hở môi": To be in the know but not dare to utter a word; to know a secret but be too afraid to speak about it.
  • Vì sợ bị trả thù, hắn biết chuyện nhưng không dám hở môi. (Afraid of retaliation, he knew about it but didn't dare to breathe a word.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hé môi (verb phrase): A near-synonym, also meaning to part one's lips slightly. It can be used interchangeably with "hở môi" in many contexts.
  • Nàng hé môi định nói nhưng lại thôi. (She parted her lips to speak but then stopped.)
• Mở miệng (verb phrase): To open one's mouth. This is a more general term and can refer to the physical act of opening the mouth for eating, speaking, or other reasons, not necessarily implying hesitation.
  • Đứa trẻ mở miệng ra để đánh răng. (The child opens his mouth to brush his teeth.)

Synonyms

• Lên tiếng (verb): To speak up, to voice an opinion. This implies actually speaking, whereas "hở môi" often stops at the intention.
• Tiết lộ (verb): To disclose, to reveal (information). This is a stronger, more direct term for revealing secrets.

Related Idioms

• "Câm như hến": (To be) as mute as a clam; meaning to refuse to speak or say anything. This describes a state of complete silence, contrasting with the tentative action of "hở môi".
  • Bị tra hỏi, nó chỉ ngồi im câm như hến. (When interrogated, he just sat there, silent as a clam.)

1. Open one's lips
   • Biết chuyện nhưng không dám hở môi
     To be in the know but not dare open one's lips