Definition

1. Intransitive verb:

   • To giggle, to chuckle softly: Describes the action of laughing in a light, repeated, and often suppressed manner, typically due to amusement, shyness, or shared secretive delight.

2. Adverb:

   • Gigglingly, with a giggle: Describes the manner of an action (like laughing, speaking, or reacting) accompanied by soft, repeated laughter.

Usage Examples

• As a verb:

  • Mấy đứa trẻ thì thầm rồi khúc khích cười. (The children whispered and then giggled.)
  • Nghe câu chuyện hài, cô ấy cứ khúc khích một mình. (Listening to the funny story, she kept giggling to herself.)

• As an adverb:

  • Cô bé trả lời khúc khích vì ngại ngùng. (The little girl answered gigglingly because she was shy.)
  • Họ nói chuyện và cười khúc khích suốt buổi tối. (They talked and laughed with giggles all evening.)

Advanced Usage

• "cười khúc khích": This is the most common collocation, meaning "to giggle" or "to chuckle."

  • Tiếng cười khúc khích vang lên từ phòng bên. (The sound of giggling came from the next room.)

• Describing suppressed laughter among a group:

  • Cả nhóm khúc khích khi thấy sự việc ngớ ngẩn ấy. (The whole group giggled when they saw that silly incident.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khúc khỉch: A variant spelling with the same meaning.
• Cười khì: To snicker or chuckle, often with a slightly different tone but similar to a suppressed laugh.
• Cười rúc rích: To titter or giggle, very similar in meaning and sound symbolism to "khúc khích."

Synonyms

• Cười tủm tỉm: To smile faintly or chuckle quietly.
• Cười thầm: To laugh inwardly/to oneself.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Khúc khích cười như nắc nẻ: To giggle uncontrollably or in a continuous, chirping manner (like the sound of a "nắc nẻ" insect). This idiom emphasizes the persistent and lively nature of the giggling.
  • Nghe chuyện cười, lũ trẻ khúc khích cười như nắc nẻ. (Hearing the joke, the children giggled uncontrollably.)

1. giggling