Definition

Adjective: 1. (Of eyesight) Dim, blurred: Describes vision that is unclear, hazy, or lacking sharpness, often due to age, disease, or poor lighting. 2. (Of a reflective surface) Blurred, dull: Describes a surface like a mirror or glass that has become cloudy or tarnished, so it does not reflect a clear image. 3. (Of light) Dazzling, glaring: Describes light that is excessively bright to the point of causing temporary visual impairment or discomfort. Note: This meaning often implies the light source itself is intensely bright, causing the viewer's eyes to become 'lòa'.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Dim eyesight):
  • Ông cụ mắt đã lòa, đọc sách phải dùng kính lúp. (The old man's eyes are dim; he needs a magnifying glass to read.)
  • Ánh đèn leo lắt khiến mọi thứ trông lòa lòa. (The flickering lamp made everything look blurry.)
• Adjective (Blurred surface):
  • Tấm gương trong phòng tắm đã bị lòa vì hơi nước. (The bathroom mirror has become blurred from steam.)
• Adjective (Dazzling light):
  • Ánh đèn pha ô tô chiếu lòa làm tài xế xe máy không nhìn thấy đường. (The car's dazzling high beams made the motorbike rider unable to see the road.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chói lòa": An intensified form meaning "blindingly bright" or "dazzlingly brilliant." It is a common compound.
  • Ánh mặt trời phản chiếu trên tuyết trắng chói lòa. (The sunlight reflecting off the white snow was blinding.)
• "Lòa mắt": A phrase meaning "to dazzle the eyes" or "to be dazzling to the eyes."
  • Trang sức của cô ấy lòa mắt người xem. (Her jewelry dazzled the onlookers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Loá (adj): A common variant spelling of lòa, used interchangeably with the same meanings (dim, blurred, dazzling).
• Lòa xòa (adj): Describes something vague, indistinct, or not clearly defined, often extending the visual meaning to abstract concepts.
  • Kế hoạch của họ còn lòa xòa, chưa rõ ràng. (Their plan is still vague, not clear yet.)
• Mờ (adj): A more general synonym for "blurry," "dim," or "faint." It can be used in many of the same contexts as lòa but is more common.
• Nhòa (adj): Specifically describes something blurred as if melting or running together (e.g., tears causing vision to blur, ink smudging).

Synonyms

• Mờ (adj): Blurry, dim, faint.
• Nhòe (adj): Blurred, smudged.
• Chói (adj): Glaring, dazzling (specifically for light).

Related Phrases

• Làm lòa mắt: To dazzle/blind someone (figuratively or literally).
  • Thành tích của anh ấy làm lòa mắt nhiều người. (His achievements dazzled many people.)
• Nhìn lòa: To see dimly/blurrily.
  • Không có kính, bà ấy chỉ nhìn lòa thấy bóng người. (Without her glasses, she could only see blurry shapes of people.)

Related Idioms

• Mắt lòa chân chậm: An idiom describing the frailty of old age, literally "dim eyes and slow feet."
  • Tuổi già mắt lòa chân chậm, đi lại khó khăn. (Old age brings dim eyes and slow feet, making movement difficult.)

adjective

1. dim