mát dạ
Definition
- Adjective (figurative):
- To feel relieved, to have peace of mind: A state of mental comfort, satisfaction, or relief, often after a worry has been resolved or a kind deed has been done. It describes a feeling of coolness or freshness in one's heart or conscience.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Giúp đỡ được người khác, tôi thấy rất mát dạ. (Having helped others, I feel very relieved/at peace.)
- Nghe con kể chuyện học hành tiến bộ, bố mẹ mát dạ. (Hearing their child talk about academic progress, the parents felt reassured.)
- Làm xong nhiệm vụ đúng hạn, anh ấy mát dạ. (Having completed the task on time, he felt a sense of relief.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in a positive, figurative sense to describe an internal emotional state. It is often a response to ethical actions, resolved anxieties, or fulfilled responsibilities.
Variants and Related Words
- Mát lòng (adj): This is a direct synonym with identical meaning and usage (to feel content/relieved).
- Biết tin con an toàn, bà ấy mát lòng. (Knowing her child was safe, she felt at ease.)
Synonyms
- Relieved: Feeling reassurance after anxiety or distress.
- Content: In a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction.
- At peace (with oneself): Free from mental distress; having a quiet conscience.
Related Idioms
- Mát mặt mát dạ: A compound idiom meaning to feel proud and satisfied, often gaining both social face ("mát mặt") and inner peace ("mát dạ").
- Con thi đỗ đại học, cả nhà mát mặt mát dạ. (Their child passed the university entrance exam, so the whole family felt proud and content.)