Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Half-closed (eyes): Describes the state of eyes being nearly closed but not completely shut, often due to drowsiness, sleepiness, or being in a relaxed, semi-conscious state.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Mắt em bé lim dim khi sắp ngủ. (The baby's eyes were half-closed as he was about to fall asleep.)
  • Ông cụ ngồi lim dim mắt dưới bóng cây. (The old man sat with half-closed eyes under the tree shade.)
  • Cô ấy lim dim nhìn qua cửa sổ, tâm trạng mơ màng. (She looked out the window with half-closed eyes, her mind in a daze.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "lim dim" is almost exclusively used to describe the eyes (). It evokes a specific, gentle image of being on the verge of sleep or in a state of peaceful reverie.
• It can describe the act of pretending to sleep or observing something discreetly through nearly shut eyes.

Variants and Related Words

• Thiu thiu ngủ (v/phrase): to be dozing off, nodding off. This describes the action of falling asleep, while describes the appearance of the eyes.
  • Anh ấy thiu thiu ngủ trên ghế. (He was dozing off on the chair.)

Synonyms

• Half-closed: Partially shut.
• Droopy: Tending to hang down, often due to tiredness.
• Heavy-lidded: Having eyelids that seem difficult to keep fully open.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mắt lim dim ngủ: A common phrase meaning "eyes half-closed with sleepiness."
  • Sau bữa trưa, ai cũng có đôi mắt lim dim ngủ. (After lunch, everyone had eyes half-closed with sleepiness.)

adj

1. half-closed
   • mắt lim dim buồn ngủ
     to have half-closed eyes from spleepiness