khiếp vía
Definition
- Adjective:
- Terrified; extremely frightened: Describes a state of intense fear or horror that is believed to cause one's "vía" (spirit or vital soul) to flee or be lost.
- Appalling; horrifying: Can describe something so shocking or dreadful that it causes this extreme fear.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Câu chuyện ma đó khiến tôi khiếp vía. (That ghost story made me terrified.)
- Cảnh tượng tai nạn thật khiếp vía. (The accident scene was truly horrifying.)
- Nó khiếp vía khi thấy con rắn. (He was terrified when he saw the snake.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used for dramatic emphasis, conveying a deeper, more visceral fear than the common word "sợ" (to be afraid). It implies a fear that strikes at one's core or spirit.
Variants and Related Words
- Khiếp sợ (v/adj): to fear, to dread; fearful. A more general term for fear, without the cultural connotation of losing one's "vía."
- Họ khiếp sợ sự trừng phạt. (They dread the punishment.)
Synonyms
- Terrified: filled with overwhelming fear.
- Horrified: struck with horror.
- Appalled: greatly shocked or dismayed.
Related Idioms
- Kinh hồn bạt vía: to be scared out of one's wits; to be frightened to the point of having one's soul and spirit displaced. This is a stronger, more vivid synonym.
- Tiếng nổ làm mọi người kinh hồn bạt vía. (The explosion scared everyone out of their wits.)