hì

Thân thiện

Cô ấy cười "hì" một tiếng rồi quay đi.

Definition

1. Onomatopoeia (Từ tượng thanh):
   • The sound of a donkey's bray: Represents the characteristic "hee-haw" sound made by a donkey.
   • The sound of a soft, suppressed, or silly laugh: Represents a light, often repeated, giggling or chuckling sound, similar to "hee hee".

Usage Examples

• As the sound of a donkey:

  • Con lừa kêu "hì". (The donkey brays "hee-haw".)
  • Từ xa vọng lại tiếng hì của lừa. (From afar, the hee-haw of a donkey echoed.)

• As the sound of laughter:

  • Cô ấy cười hì hì. (She giggled "hee hee".)
  • Thằng bé nghe chuyện cười, chỉ biết hì một tiếng. (The boy heard the joke and could only let out a soft "hee".)

Advanced Usage

• "hì hì" (reduplicative form): This is the most common form. It indicates a continuous, repeated, or more vivid sound, whether of laughter or a donkey's bray. It carries a sense of silliness or lightheartedness.
  • Nó cứ ngồi cười hì hì một mình. (He just sat there giggling "hee hee" to himself.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hí (onomatopoeia): Another sound for a horse's neigh. While "hì" is for donkeys/laughter, "hí" is specifically for horses.
• Hềnh hệch (adjective): Describes a wide, often silly or foolish-looking grin, which is the facial expression that might accompany a "hì hì" laugh.

Synonyms

• Hee-haw (English): The direct equivalent for the donkey sound.
• Chuckling / Giggling (English): For the laughter sound.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Cười hì hì: A set phrase meaning "to giggle" or "to chuckle softly and repeatedly."
  • Sao cậu lại cười hì hì thế? (Why are you giggling like that?)

Học thuật

1. Hee-haw
   • Chợt nghe tiếng hì ở đâu
     To suddenly hear a hee-haw from somewhere
   • Hì hì (láy, ý liên tiếp)