khuây

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khuây

Một người đàn ông ngồi đọc sách bên cửa sổ để khuây nỗi buồn.

Definition

Verb: - To find solace, to relieve (sadness, sorrow, longing): "khuây" describes the action of alleviating or finding comfort from a state of sadness, sorrow, or longing, often through a specific activity. It implies a temporary distraction or consolation, not a permanent cure. - To be consoled, to be comforted: It can also describe the resulting state of being somewhat comforted or having one's grief eased.

Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • Uống rượu cho khuây nỗi sầu. (To drink alcohol to relieve one's sorrow.)
    • Nghe nhạc cho khuây nỗi nhớ nhà. (To listen to music to solace one's homesickness.)
    • "Cỏ thơm dạ chẳng khuây." (Chinh phụ ngâm) ("The grass may be fragrant, but it could not solace her heart.")
Advanced Usage
  • "Làm khuây": to help someone forget their sorrow, to distract someone.
    • Anh ấy kể chuyện vui để làm khuây lòng mẹ. (He tells funny stories to distract/console his mother.)
  • "Khuây khỏa": (a common reduplicative form) to find relief, to be somewhat comforted.
    • Thời gian sẽ giúp khuây khỏa dần. (Time will help her find solace gradually.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Khuây khỏa (verb): A more emphatic or complete form meaning to find relief or consolation.
  • Khuây lòng (verb phrase): To console one's heart, to find comfort for one's feelings.
Synonyms
  • Giải khuây (verb): to dispel sorrow, to find distraction (often used similarly).
  • Quên (verb): to forget (a more general term, while "khuây" specifically implies forgetting sorrow).
  • An ủi (verb): to comfort, to console (focuses more on the act of giving comfort).
  • Làm dịu (verb phrase): to soothe, to alleviate (can apply to emotions or physical pain).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "khuây" is primarily used in specific constructions, common related phrases are listed here. - Cho khuây: in order to relieve/solace. This is the most common construction. - Đi dạo cho khuây. (To go for a walk to relieve one's mind.) - Để khuây: for the purpose of finding solace (similar to "cho khuây"). - ấy đọc sách để khuây nỗi cô đơn. (She reads books to solace her loneliness.)

Related Idioms
  • Khuây khoả lòng nhau: to console each other.
    • Sau tai nạn, cả gia đình cùng nhau khuây khoả. (After the accident, the whole family consoled each other.)
  • Chẳng (không) khuây: cannot be consoled, inconsolable (as seen in the classic poetry example).
    • Nỗi đau mất mát quá lớn, ấy mãi chẳng khuây. (The pain of the loss is too great, she remains inconsolable.)
khuây

Một người đàn ông ngồi đọc sách bên cửa sổ để khuây nỗi buồn.

  1. (Find) solace, relieve
    • Uống rượu cho khuây nỗi sầu
      To find solace from sorrow in alcohol
    • Nghe nhạc cho khuây nỗi nhớ nhà
      To solace one's homesicknees with music
    • "Cỏ thơm dạ chẳng khuây " (Chinh phụ ngâm)
  2. The fragrant grass could not give solace to her heart