Definition

1. Onomatopoeia / Adverb:
   • To snore lightly or make a light, rhythmic snorting sound: Describes the soft, often repetitive sound made by someone sleeping or breathing heavily through the nose, typically not a loud or disruptive snore. It can also describe a similar sound made by an animal.

Usage Examples

• Onomatopoeia / Adverb:
  • Ông ấy ngủ khè khè trên ghế. (He is sleeping, snoring lightly on the chair.)
  • Con mèo nằm khè khè bên lò sưởi. (The cat lay by the fireplace, making a soft purring/breathing sound.)
  • Nghe tiếng thở khè khè, tôi biết nó đã ngủ say. (Hearing the light snoring sound, I knew he was fast asleep.)

Advanced Usage

• "khè khè" as a descriptive reduplicative: This is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of the root "khè". Reduplication often softens the meaning or makes it sound more descriptive and vivid. "Khè khè" implies a gentler, more continuous, or more endearing sound compared to a standalone "khè", which might be sharper or more abrupt.

Variants and Related Words

• Khè (onomatopoeia): The root word, indicating a snort, a grunt, or a sound of exertion or mild protest.
  • Anh ta khè một tiếng rồi quay đi. (He gave a grunt/snort and turned away.)
• Khò khè (onomatopoeia): Another reduplicative, often describing wheezing, labored, or heavier breathing, sometimes associated with illness.
  • Đứa bé bị ho và thở khò khè. (The child is coughing and breathing wheezily.)

Synonyms

• Ngáy (verb): To snore. (Note: "Ngáy" usually implies a louder, more typical snore, while "khè khè" is softer.)
• Thở phì phì (phrase): To breathe with a puffing sound.

Related Idioms or Phrases

• Ngủ khè khè: To sleep soundly while making light snoring sounds. This is the most common collocation for this word.
  • Sau bữa trưa, bố tôi thường ngủ khè khè một giấc ngắn. (After lunch, my father usually takes a short nap, snoring lightly.)

1. xem khè (láy)