khỏa

Một người đàn ông khỏa chân dưới dòng suối trong vắt.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To swish or swash in water: The primary meaning of "khỏa" is to move a part of the body (like a foot or hand) back and forth through water, typically to clean or rinse it.
   • To paddle gently: It can describe a light, stirring motion made in a liquid.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy khỏa chân trong dòng suối mát. (She swished her feet in the cool stream.)
  • Để rửa sạch, anh ta khỏa bàn tay dưới vòi nước. (To clean them, he swashed his hands under the faucet.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "khỏa" is specific and somewhat literary or regional in modern Vietnamese. It is most commonly used in descriptive contexts related to water.

Variants and Related Words

• Khỏa nước (v): to swish in water. This is a more complete phrase using the verb.
  • Trẻ con thích khỏa nước ở ven hồ. (Children like to swish water at the edge of the lake.)

Synonyms

• Swish: to move with a soft, rushing sound through liquid.
• Swash: to splash or move vigorously in water.
• Paddle: to move hands or feet gently in water.

Notes on Usage

• "Khỏa" is not a high-frequency verb in everyday conversation. Its usage is often found in poetic or descriptive writing about nature, rural life, or simple actions involving water.
• It typically requires an object (e.g., chân - feet, tay - hands) and is associated with a shallow, contained body of water like a pond, stream, or basin.