khuất mặt
Definition
- Adjective:
- Absent / Out of sight: Refers to a person who is not physically present in a location where they are typically expected or relevant. It implies a temporary or situational absence.
- Passed away / Deceased: A euphemistic and respectful term meaning someone has died, literally "to have one's face hidden."
Usage Examples
Adjective (Absent):
- Khi anh ấy khuất mặt, mọi người bắt đầu chỉ trích. (When he was absent, people began to criticize.)
- Chúng tôi không nên quyết định khi người phụ trách còn khuất mặt. (We should not make a decision while the person in charge is still absent.)
Adjective (Deceased):
- Cụ ông ấy đã khuất mặt được ba năm. (That old gentleman passed away three years ago.)
- Họ thắp hương tưởng nhớ người đã khuất mặt. (They light incense to remember the deceased.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in formal, literary, or respectful contexts, especially when referring to death. It softens the directness of stating someone has died.
Variants and Related Words
Vắng mặt (adj): to be absent. This is a more common and neutral term for absence without the euphemistic meaning of death.
- Cô ấy vắng mặt trong cuộc họp. (She was absent from the meeting.)
Qua đời (v): to pass away. A direct synonym for the "deceased" meaning.
- Nghệ sĩ đó đã qua đời vì bệnh. (That artist passed away due to illness.)
Synonyms
- Absent: Not present.
- Away: Not at a place.
- Deceased: No longer living.
- Departed: A polite term for someone who has died.
Related Idioms
Khuất núi: A synonym meaning "to pass away," literally "to be hidden by the mountain." It carries the same euphemistic tone.
- Người cha già đã khuất núi. (The old father has passed away.)
Khuất mặt cách lời: An idiom meaning "absent and distant," highlighting a separation where one is not only out of sight but also out of communication.
- Bạn bè phương xa, khuất mặt cách lời. (Friends are far away, absent and out of touch.)