Definition

Noun: 1. Nightingale: A small songbird (genus Luscinia), known for its beautiful and powerful song, often sung at night. In Vietnam, the term "họa mi" commonly refers to the Japanese Bush Warbler (Horornis diphone), a bird celebrated in poetry and culture for its melodious voice, typically heard at dawn and dusk.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tiếng hót của con họa mi thật trong trẻo. (The nightingale's song is very clear.)
  • Buổi sáng trong vườn có tiếng họa mi hót. (In the morning, there is a nightingale singing in the garden.)
  • Họa mi là loài chim được yêu thích trong thơ ca Việt Nam. (The nightingale is a bird beloved in Vietnamese poetry.)

Advanced Usage

• Metaphorical use for a beautiful singing voice: The word "họa mi" is often used poetically to compliment someone with a lovely singing voice.
  • Cô ấy được mệnh danh là họa mi của dàn hợp xướng. (She is known as the nightingale of the choir.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chim họa mi: This is the full, more specific term, literally "nightingale bird." It is often used interchangeably with just "họa mi."

Synonyms

• Chim sơn ca (noun): Skylark. While also a songbird praised for its voice, a "sơn ca" is a different species, known for singing while flying high in the sky, unlike the "họa mi" which often sings from perches in bushes or trees.
• Danh ca (noun): Diva, famous singer. This is a human-focused synonym when "họa mi" is used metaphorically for a great singer.

Related Idioms

• Giọng hót họa mi: A "nightingale's voice" – an idiom describing an exceptionally beautiful and melodious singing voice.
  • Cô bé có một giọng hót họa mi. (The little girl has a nightingale's voice.)

noun

1. nightingale