Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Slightly, a little bit, somewhat: Expresses a small degree or a mild intensity of a state or quality.
   • Rather, fairly: Indicates a moderate level, not strong or extreme.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Trời hôm nay hoi hoi lạnh. (The weather is a little bit cold today.)
  • Cô ấy cảm thấy hoi hoi mệt. (She feels somewhat tired.)
  • Món ăn này hoi hoi mặn. (This dish is rather salty.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to soften a statement, making it sound less direct or critical.
  • Anh ấy hoi hoi chậm trễ. (He is slightly delayed.) [Implies it's not a major problem]
• Often used in spoken Vietnamese for a casual, colloquial tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Hơi (adv): The standard, more formal word for "slightly, a bit". "Hoi hoi" is a reduplicative (láy) form of "hơi", adding emphasis or a more colloquial feel.
  • Trời hơi lạnh. (The weather is a bit cold.)

Synonyms

• Một chút: A little bit.
• Hơi: Slightly, a bit.
• Khá: Quite, fairly.

Notes on Meaning

• "Hoi hoi" vs. "Hơi": While both mean "slightly", "hoi hoi" is more informal and often conveys a sense of "just a touch" or "ever so slightly". It is commonly used in Southern Vietnamese dialects.
• This word is an example of từ láy (reduplicative word), where a syllable is repeated with a slight phonetic change to create a new word with a nuanced meaning.

1. xem hoi (láy)