Definition

1. Verb:
   • To wave, to swing, to move (something) back and forth or in a sweeping motion: "khuơ" describes the action of moving an object, typically one's hand or an arm, through the air in a broad, often careless or dismissive gesture. It can imply a lack of precision or a casual motion to clear space or dismiss something.
   • To stir, to agitate (a liquid): In some contexts, it can mean to move something around in a liquid, similar to stirring.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy khuơ tay từ chối lời mời. (She waved her hand to refuse the invitation.)
  • Đừng khuơ chân tay lung tung như thế! (Don't swing your arms and legs around like that!)
  • Nó khuơ cây gậy trong không khí. (He swung the stick in the air.)

Advanced Usage

• "khuơ khuơ": This reduplicated form emphasizes the repeated, casual, or somewhat clumsy waving motion.

  • Nó chỉ biết khuơ khuơ tay mà không giúp được gì. (He just kept waving his hands around without being able to help.)

• "khuơ đi": to wave something away, to dismiss with a gesture.

  • Anh ta khuơ đi những lời phàn nàn. (He waved away the complaints.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khua (verb): This is the more standard, non-dialectal form of "khuơ". It carries the same core meanings: to wave, to swing, to stir.

  • Khua tay chào tạm biệt. (Wave your hand to say goodbye.)
  • Khua nước trong xô. (Stir the water in the bucket.)

• Khoắng (verb): To stir or rummage around, often in a container. It shares the sense of agitating contents but is more specific to searching or mixing within a confined space.

• Vung (verb): To brandish, to swing (a weapon or tool). It implies a more forceful or purposeful motion, often with an object.

Synonyms

• Vẫy: to wave (e.g., a hand, a flag), often in a greeting or signal. More controlled than "khuơ".
• Quơ: to grab at, to make a sweeping or groping motion, often hastily. Can be similar to "khuơ" but often implies an attempt to catch or collect.
• Ngoáy: to wiggle, to stir (often with a finger or a thin object). More focused and smaller in scale than "khuơ".

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a single verb, "khuơ" is not commonly used in structured phrasal verbs like in English. Its meaning is modified by following adverbs or direct objects. - Khuơ tay: to wave one's hand(s). - Khuơ chân: to swing one's leg(s).

Related Idioms

• Khuơ tay múa chân: To gesticulate wildly with hands and feet; to move one's limbs about energetically and often clumsily.
  • Đứng yên nào, đừng có khuơ tay múa chân thế! (Stand still, don't wave your arms and legs around like that!)