há miệng
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To open one's mouth: The physical action of parting the lips and jaws, typically to speak, eat, breathe, or express surprise.
- To begin to speak: Used figuratively to indicate starting to talk or express an opinion.
Usage Examples
- Literal meaning (to open the mouth):
- Bé há miệng để đánh răng. (The child opens his mouth to brush his teeth.)
- Cô ấy há miệng ngạc nhiên khi nghe tin. (She opened her mouth in surprise upon hearing the news.)
- Figurative meaning (to begin to speak):
- Anh ta vừa há miệng ra là đã nói điều không hay. (As soon as he opened his mouth, he said something unpleasant.)
- Đừng há miệng chờ sung. (Don't just sit with your mouth open waiting for a fig to fall. / Don't expect handouts.)
Advanced Usage
- "Há miệng mắc quai": An idiom meaning "to put one's foot in one's mouth" or to get into trouble immediately upon speaking.
- Cẩn thận kẻo há miệng mắc quai. (Be careful, or you'll put your foot in your mouth.)
- "Há miệng chờ sung": A common idiom criticizing passivity, meaning to wait idly for good things to happen without making any effort.
Variants and Related Words
- Hả miệng (verb): A less common variant with the same meaning as "há miệng".
- Há (verb): The core verb meaning "to open wide". It can be used with other objects (e.g., - to open one's eyes wide).
- Mở miệng (verb phrase): A near-synonym meaning "to open one's mouth" or "to start speaking". It is often more neutral, while "há miệng" can imply a wider or more deliberate opening.
Synonyms
- Mở miệng: To open one's mouth; to start talking.
- Phát biểu: To state, to express (more formal, for speaking up).
Related Idioms
- "Há miệng chờ sung": As above. The English equivalent is "to wait for manna from heaven" or "to expect something for nothing".
- "Há miệng mắc quai": As above. Similar to "to put one's foot in it" or "to get into trouble by speaking".