Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Raucous, hoarse, husky: Describes a voice or sound that is rough, low-pitched, and lacking clarity, often due to strain, illness, or overuse.
   • Raucous, grating: Describes a loud, harsh, and unpleasant sound.

2. Noun:

   • A set of three identical cards: In traditional Vietnamese card games like Tổ Tôm or Tài Bàn, this refers to a meld or combination of three cards of the same rank and suit.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Anh ấy bị cảm nên giọng nói khàn đặc. (He has a cold, so his voice is very hoarse.)
  • Tiếng cười khàn khàn vang lên từ góc phòng. (A raucous laugh echoed from the corner of the room.)
  • Sau buổi biểu diễn, ca sĩ có giọng khàn vì hát quá nhiều. (After the concert, the singer had a husky voice from singing too much.)

• Noun (in card games):

  • Trong ván bài, anh ta có một khàn tam vạn. (In the card game, he has a set of three "tam vạn" cards.)
  • Bài của cô ấy rất tốt vì đã xếp được khàn. (Her hand is very good because she has formed a set of three identical cards.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cười khàn": To laugh raucously; to let out a rough, throaty laugh.

  • Ông lão cười khàn một tiếng rồi bắt đầu kể chuyện. (The old man let out a raucous laugh and then began to tell a story.)

• "Giọng khàn khàn": A consistently hoarse or husky voice (often used in a descriptive, onomatopoeic reduplicated form).

  • Người hút thuốc lá lâu năm thường có giọng khàn khàn. (Long-time smokers often have a permanently husky voice.)

• "Nằm khàn" (idiomatic): To be at a loose end; to be idle with nothing to do. (Note: This is a fixed idiom; the word "khàn" here does not carry its core meanings.)

  • Cuối tuần không có kế hoạch gì, tôi chỉ nằm khàn ở nhà. (With no plans for the weekend, I just lounged around at home.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khàn khàn (adj, reduplicated form): Emphasizes the hoarse, rough quality of a sound. Often used descriptively.

  • Giọng nói khàn khàn của ông ấy rất đặc trưng. (His distinctly raspy voice is very characteristic.)

• Khàn đặc (adj phrase): Extremely hoarse; voice is completely gone or very thick.

  • Cổ họng đau đến mức nói khàn đặc. (My throat hurt so much I could only speak in an extremely hoarse whisper.)

Synonyms

• Rè (adj): Cracked, tinny (for voice or sound). Often overlaps with "khàn" but can imply a higher-pitched break.
• Ồm ồm (adj): Deep and muffled (for voice).
• Khan (adj): Dry (for throat or voice). Note: "Khan" (dry) is a different word from "khàn" (hoarse), though they are sometimes confused.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Giọng khàn khàn như giọng vịt đực / như giọng quạ": To have a voice as raucous as a drake's / a crow's. A vivid simile describing a very rough, unpleasant voice.

  • Ông ấy hút thuốc nhiều nên giọng khàn khàn như giọng vịt đực. (He smokes a lot, so his voice is as raucous as a drake's.)

• "Nằm khàn" (as mentioned above): To be idle; to lie around with nothing to do.

1. Set of three same cards
2. Raucous
   • Cười khàn
     Raucous laughter
   • Giọng khàn khàn như giọng vịt đực
     To have a raucous voice like that of a drake, to have a raucous voice like that of a crow
3. Being at a loose end (xem nằm khàn)