Definition

1. Onomatopoeia (Từ tượng thanh):
   • Pealing laughter; loud, clear, and unrestrained laughter: "khanh khách" is an onomatopoeic word that vividly imitates the sound of hearty, loud, and often high-pitched laughter, typically expressing great amusement, joy, or self-satisfaction.

Usage Examples

• Onomatopoeia:
  • Nghe câu chuyện hài, cả bọn cười khanh khách. (Listening to the funny story, the whole group burst into peals of laughter.)
  • Đứa trẻ thích thú cười khanh khách khi được chơi đùa. (The child laughed heartily with pealing laughter when playing.)
  • Cô ấy cười khanh khách khi giành được chiến thắng. (She let out a peal of laughter upon winning.)

Advanced Usage

• "cười khanh khách": This is the most common and natural collocation. The verb "cười" (to laugh) is almost always used with "khanh khách" to describe the specific sound and manner of laughter.
  • Không thể nhịn được, anh ta bật cười khanh khách. (Unable to hold back, he burst out in pealing laughter.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ha hả: Another onomatopoeia for loud, open-mouthed laughter, often perceived as more robust or masculine than "khanh khách".
  • Ông ấy cười ha hả trước câu nói đùa. (He let out a hearty "ha ha" laugh at the joke.)
• Rúc rích: An onomatopoeia for giggling, stifled, or soft laughter, much quieter than "khanh khách".
  • Hai đứa trẻ thì thầm và cười rúc rích. (The two children whispered and giggled.)

Synonyms

• Cười vang: to laugh resoundingly.
• Cười to: to laugh loudly.
• Cười sảng khoái: to laugh heartily and refreshingly.

Related Idioms

• "Cười như nắc nẻ": To laugh uncontrollably and repeatedly (like the sound of a specific type of castanet). This idiom describes a similar intensity of laughter as "cười khanh khách" but uses a different metaphorical sound.
  • Nghe xong bí mật, nó cười như nắc nẻ. (After hearing the secret, he laughed uncontrollably.)

1. Pealing (laughter)
   • Đắc chí cười khanh khách
     To show self-satisfaction with pealing laughter (with peals of laughter)