khè khè
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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.)
- xem khè (láy)