Definition

1. Adjective phrase:
   • Eyes tired from looking/waiting for a long time: Describes the physical sensation of eye strain or fatigue resulting from prolonged visual effort, such as staring, watching, or searching intently for an extended period. It often implies waiting or anticipating something with great eagerness until one's eyes grow weary.

Usage

• As an adjective phrase: Typically used to modify a verb of perception or anticipation (like - to wait, - to hope, - to look) to emphasize the duration and intensity of the effort, leading to physical tiredness.
  • It conveys a sense of prolonged, often anxious, expectation that ends in weariness.
  • It is commonly used in a figurative sense to express waiting in vain or hoping for something that does not happen.

Usage Examples

• Literal/Figurative:
  • Chờ mỏi mắt mà không thấy đến. (To wait until one's eyes are tired [for a long time] in vain.)
  • Ngồi đọc sách cả ngày, mỏi mắt quá. (Sitting and reading books all day makes my eyes so tired.)
  • Mong tin anh ấy, mong đến mỏi mắt. (I waited for his news until my eyes grew weary.)

Advanced Usage

• "chờ mỏi mắt": A very common collocation meaning "to wait for a very long time (often impatiently or anxiously)".
  • Cả buổi chiều tôi chờ mỏi mắt nhưng cô ấy vẫn không gọi. (I waited all afternoon until my eyes were tired, but she still didn't call.)
• "trông mỏi mắt": Similar to "chờ mỏi mắt", meaning to look out for/wait for someone/something for a long time.
  • Mẹ trông mỏi mắt đứa con đi xa mới về. (The mother looked out with weary eyes for her child who had been away to return.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mỏi (adj): Tired, weary. Can be combined with other body parts (e.g., - leg-weary, - backache).
• Mỏi mòn (adj phrase): Worn out, exhausted (often from long waiting or longing). It carries a stronger emotional connotation of gradual depletion.
  • Chờ đợi mỏi mòn. (To wait until worn out.)

Synonyms

• Trông mong khắc khoải: To wait/long for anxiously.
• Chờ đợi lâu: To wait for a long time.
• Mòn mỏi chờ trông: To wear oneself out waiting and looking (more literary).

Related Idioms/Set Phrases

• "Mỏi mắt chờ mong": A set phrase emphasizing the weariness from prolonged hope and anticipation.
  • Bao năm mỏi mắt chờ mong ngày sum họp. (For many years, I waited with weary eyes for the day of reunion.)
• While "mỏi mắt" itself is not typically part of a larger idiomatic structure beyond these common collocations, its usage is inherently idiomatic in expressing futile or lengthy expectation.

1. For a weary lonhg time
   • Chờ mỏi mắt mà không thấy đến
     To wait for someone for a weary long time in vain