Definition

1. Adjective/Adverb (Tính từ/Trạng từ):
   • Chuckling, with a soft, low laugh: Describes the sound or manner of a gentle, subdued, and often repeated laugh, typically expressing amusement, contentment, or mild embarrassment. It is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of "khì".

Usage

• "Khì khì" is primarily used as an adverbial modifier following verbs like "cười" (to laugh) to describe the specific sound and nature of the laughter. It is not commonly used as a standalone adjective.
• It conveys a sense of a quiet, inward, or suppressed laugh, softer than a hearty laugh (cười ha hả) or a giggle (cười khúc khích).

Usage Examples

• As an adverbial modifier:
  • Anh ấy nghe xong chỉ cười khì khì. (After hearing it, he just chuckled softly.)
  • Ông cụ ngồi đọc truyện, thi thoảng lại cười khì khì một mình. (The old man sat reading a story, occasionally chuckling to himself.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cười khì khì" can sometimes imply a laugh that is somewhat foolish, silly, or awkward, depending on the context.
  • Nó trả lời sai, xong lại cười khì khì. (He answered incorrectly, then just gave a silly chuckle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khì: The root word, also meaning to chuckle or snort. "Khì khì" is its reduplicative form, which often makes the meaning more descriptive and vivid.
• Cười khúc khích: To giggle (often higher-pitched and more intermittent than "khì khì").
• Cười tủm tỉm: To smile faintly or suppress a smile.

Synonyms

• Cười thầm: To laugh inwardly/to oneself.
• Cười mủm mỉm: To smile contentedly.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• While "khì khì" itself is not typically part of fixed idioms, the phrase "cười khì khì" functions as a common descriptive collocation for a specific type of laughter.

1. xem khì (láy)
   • Cười khì
     To chukle