Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Strange-looking, unusual in appearance: Describes something that looks different, unfamiliar, or novel to the eye, often catching attention due to its unique or uncommon visual characteristics.
   • Novel, eye-catching: Refers to something that appears new, interesting, or striking to look at.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cái lọ cổ này lạ mắt nhỉ. (How strange-looking this ancient pot is!)
  • Kiến trúc của tòa nhà đó rất lạ mắt. (The architecture of that building is very eye-catching.)
  • Cô ấy mặc một bộ trang phục lạ mắt đến bữa tiệc. (She wore a novel outfit to the party.)

Advanced Usage

• "gây lạ mắt": to cause a strange/novel visual impression, to be eye-catching.
  • Mẫu xe mới gây lạ mắt tại triển lãm. (The new car model is eye-catching at the exhibition.)
• "cảm giác lạ mắt": a feeling of visual novelty or strangeness.
  • Du khách có cảm giác lạ mắt khi lần đầu đến đây. (Tourists have a feeling of visual novelty when coming here for the first time.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lạ (adj): strange, unfamiliar. (e.g., - stranger)
• Mắt (n): eye. (e.g., - sore eyes)
• Lạ lùng (adj): strange, peculiar (broader sense, not limited to visual).
• Độc đáo (adj): unique, distinctive (often positive connotation).

Synonyms

• Khác thường: unusual, out of the ordinary.
• Kỳ lạ: weird, bizarre (often stronger than "lạ mắt").
• Mới lạ: new and strange, novel.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Trang phục lạ mắt: strange-looking/eye-catching clothing.
• Kiểu dáng lạ mắt: a novel/unique design.
• Vẻ ngoài lạ mắt: a strange/unfamiliar appearance.

Related Idioms

• Lạ mắt lạ lùng: An emphatic phrase meaning "very strange-looking" or "extremely novel to the eye."
  • Cỗ máy ấy trông lạ mắt lạ lùng. (That machine looks utterly strange.)

1. Strange-looking
   • Cái lọ cổ này lạ mắt nhỉ
     How strange-looking this ancient pot is!