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 có thơm mà 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 bà 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"). - Cô 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, bà ấy mãi chẳng khuây. (The pain of the loss is too great, she remains inconsolable.)

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 có thơm mà dạ chẳng khuây " (Chinh phụ ngâm)
2. The fragrant grass could not give solace to her heart