Definitions

1. Noun:

   • Catastrophe, disaster, misfortune: An extremely bad event causing great damage, suffering, or loss.
   • Painting, picture: A work of art created by applying paint to a surface.

2. Verb:

   • To draw; to paint; to delineate: To create a picture or diagram by making lines and marks on a surface.
   • To answer (someone's poem) with another using the same rhyme and meter: To compose a poetic reply that matches the original poem's form.
   • To perform in unison; to accompany: To play music simultaneously with another performer or instrument.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Disaster):

  • Hoạ vô đơn chí. (Misfortunes never come singly.)
  • Anh ấy đã tránh được một hoạ lớn. (He avoided a great disaster.)

• Noun (Painting):

  • Phòng triển lãm trưng bày nhiều bức hoạ cổ. (The exhibition hall displays many ancient paintings.)
  • Cầm, kỳ, thi, hoạ là bốn thú vui tao nhã. (Music, chess, poetry, and painting are the four refined pleasures.)

• Verb (To draw/paint):

  • Bà ấy thích hoạ phong cảnh. (She likes to paint landscapes.)
  • Nghệ sĩ đang hoạ chân dung. (The artist is drawing a portrait.)

• Verb (To answer a poem):

  • Nhà thơ đã hoạ lại bài thơ của bạn mình. (The poet composed a reply to his friend's poem.)

• Verb (To accompany musically):

  • Cô ấy hoạ đàn cho tiếng hát của anh. (She accompanied his singing on the instrument.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hoạ vô đơn chí": A proverb meaning "Misfortunes never come singly" or "Troubles never come alone."
• "Hoạ theo": To follow along (in drawing or music); to imitate or accompany closely.
  • Đứa trẻ cố gắng hoạ theo bức tranh. (The child tried to copy the painting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hoạ sĩ (noun): Painter, artist.
  • Người hoạ sĩ nổi tiếng đó đã vẽ bức tranh này. (That famous painter created this picture.)
• Hoạ tiết (noun): Pattern, decorative motif.
• Hoạ phẩm (noun): Artwork, painting (as a product).
• Hoạ đồ (noun): Diagram, blueprint, plan.
• Tai hoạ (noun): Calamity, catastrophe (a stronger form of disaster).

Synonyms

• For "disaster": Thảm hoạ, tai ương, tai hoạ.
• For "painting": Bức tranh, bức vẽ, tranh.
• For "to draw": Vẽ, phác hoạ.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Hoạ lại: To redraw; to draw again; to reply in poetry.
• Hoạ cùng: To draw/paint together; to perform music together.

Related Idioms

• "Hoạ vô đơn chí": As above, a common proverb.
• "Tránh voi chẳng xấu mặt nào, tránh hoạ mới khó": (Proverb) It's not shameful to avoid an elephant, but avoiding disaster is truly difficult. (Meaning: It's wise to avoid trouble.)
• "Hoạ từ miệng mà ra": Trouble comes from the mouth. (Meaning: Careless speech can cause disaster.)

noun

1. Catastrophe, disaster
   • Mưu thâm thì hoạ cũng thâm (tục ngữ)
     The disaster is proportionate to the design; the darker the design, the greater the disaster it invites (upon its author)
2. misfortune
   • Hoạ vô đơn chí
     Misfortunes never come singly
3. painting
   • Cầm, kỳ, thi, họa
     Music, chess, poetry, and painting (regarded as the four amusements or accomplishments of a feudal intellectual)

verb

1. to draw; to paint; to delineate
   • họa sĩ
     painter
2. Answer (someone's poem) with another using the same rhyme and meter
3. Perform in unison
4. to accompany
   • Họa đàn
     To perform in unison (on one instrument) with another instrument
5. Respond