lét
Definition
Verb:
- To glance sideways; to peek; to look furtively: To look quickly and secretly, often from the corner of one's eye, typically to avoid being seen looking directly.
- To leer; to ogle: To look at someone in an unpleasant, sly, or desiring way.
Noun:
- A sidelong glance; a furtive look: A single, quick, and often secretive look cast to the side.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy lét nhìn qua khe cửa. (She peeked through the crack in the door.)
- Đứa trẻ lét nhìn mẹ để xem phản ứng. (The child glanced sideways at his mother to gauge her reaction.)
- Noun:
- Chàng trai trao nàng một lét đầy ý nhị. (The young man gave her a meaningful sidelong glance.)
Advanced Usage
- "Lét chừng": To watch furtively or to keep a stealthy watch on something.
- Hắn ngồi lét chừng mọi người trong phòng. (He sat there, stealthily watching everyone in the room.)
Variants and Related Words
- Liếc (v): To glance, to look sideways. This is the more common modern synonym for "lét."
- Nó liếc nhìn chiếc bánh trên bàn. (He glanced at the cake on the table.)
Synonyms
- Verb: To peek, to glance, to peep, to leer, to ogle.
- Noun: A glance, a peek, a glimpse (specifically a furtive one).
Related Idioms
- Lét như chuột ngày: To look as timid as a mouse in daylight; to be extremely furtive or sneaky.
- Nó cứ lét như chuột ngày, không dám nhìn thẳng. (He keeps looking around furtively like a mouse in daylight, not daring to look straight ahead.)