héo mòn
Definition
- Verb:
- To wither away; to languish: To gradually lose vitality, strength, or freshness, often due to neglect, sorrow, or harsh conditions. It describes a slow process of decline in plants or, metaphorically, in people's spirits or health.
- To pine away: To suffer a gradual decline in health or spirit, typically from longing, grief, or lack of nourishment.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cây cối trong hạn hán héo mòn dần. (The vegetation withered away gradually during the drought.)
- Cô ấy héo mòn vì nhớ nhà. (She pined away from homesickness.)
- Hy vọng của họ héo mòn theo thời gian. (Their hope languished over time.)
Advanced Usage
- This verb often carries a poetic or literary tone, emphasizing a slow, painful, and passive process of deterioration. It is commonly used in descriptive writing about both physical and emotional states.
Variants and Related Words
- Héo (v): to wilt, to wither. Describes a more general or immediate state of drooping or losing freshness.
- Bông hoa héo vì thiếu nước. (The flower wilted from lack of water.)
- Mòn (v): to wear away, to erode. Often refers to physical erosion or the gradual diminishing of something.
- Đôi giày đã mòn đế. (The shoes have worn-out soles.)
Synonyms
- Wither: to become dry and shriveled.
- Languish: to lose or lack vitality; to grow weak.
- Pine: to suffer a mental and physical decline, especially from longing.
Related Idioms
- Héo mòn tâm can: To have one's heart and soul wither away; to be consumed by sorrow or despair.
- Nỗi đau ấy khiến bà héo mòn tâm can. (That pain caused her heart and soul to wither away.)