Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To open one's eyes: The literal action of opening the eyelids after sleep or rest.
   • To become aware; to see the truth: To gain understanding or awareness about a situation, often after a period of ignorance or deception.
   • (Informal) To wake up; to be barely awake: Used to describe the moment of waking up, often implying an immediate action taken right upon waking.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning (to open eyes):

  • Em bé vừa mở mắt đã cười. (The baby smiled as soon as it opened its eyes.)
  • Anh ấy mở mắt nhìn đồng hồ. (He opened his eyes and looked at the clock.)

• Figurative meaning (to become aware):

  • Sự thật đã khiến cô ấy mở mắt. (The truth made her see the light.)
  • Anh phải mở mắt ra mà nhìn vào thực tế. (You need to open your eyes and look at reality.)

• Informal meaning (upon waking):

  • Nó vừa mở mắt đã đòi đi chơi. (He demanded to go out to play the moment he woke up.)
  • Sáng nay tôi vừa mở mắt đã nghe điện thoại reo. (This morning, the phone rang the moment I opened my eyes/woke up.)

Advanced Usage

• "mở mắt ra": Often used for emphasis, especially in the figurative sense of becoming aware.

  • Câu chuyện đó đã làm tôi mở mắt ra. (That story really opened my eyes.)

• "mới mở mắt": Used literally for newborn animals or figuratively to describe someone naive or new to something.

  • Mèo con mới mở mắt. (The kittens have just opened their eyes / are very newborn.)
  • Nó mới mở mắt, đã biết gì đâu. (He's still wet behind the ears, what does he know?)

Variants and Related Words

• Mở (verb): To open.

  • mở cửa (to open the door), mở mang (to expand, to develop).

• Mắt (noun): Eye.

  • đau mắt (sore eyes), con mắt (eye - often used figuratively for perspective).

Synonyms

• Thức dậy (verb): To wake up (focuses on the state change from sleep).
• Tỉnh ngộ (verb): To come to one's senses, to be enlightened (stronger, more formal for the figurative sense).
• Nhận ra (verb): To realize.

Related Phrases

• Mở mắt to ra: To open one's eyes wide (in surprise, amazement).

  • Cô ấy mở mắt to ra vì kinh ngạc. (She opened her eyes wide in amazement.)

• Chưa mở mắt: Has not opened its eyes yet (for newborn animals); figuratively, not yet aware.

  • Chú cún này chưa mở mắt. (This puppy hasn't opened its eyes yet.)

Related Idioms

• Mở mắt mở mũi: (Idiom) To be alert and aware; to be conscious and perceptive.

  • Sau chuyến đi, nó mở mắt mở mũi ra nhiều. (After the trip, he became much more aware and perceptive.)

• Mới mở mắt đã đòi dạy khôn: (Idiom, derogatory) Literally "Just opened its eyes and already wants to teach wisdom"; used to criticize someone who is young, inexperienced, or new to something but acts like an expert.

  • Nó biết gì đâu, mới mở mắt đã đòi dạy khôn. (What does he know? He's just a novice but acts like a know-it-all.)

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