nói thầm
Definition
- Verb:
- To whisper: To speak very softly using one's breath without the vibration of the vocal cords, typically so that only a person nearby can hear.
- To speak under one's breath: To say something in a very quiet voice, often expressing a thought one does not wish to say aloud.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hai đứa trẻ ngồi nói thầm với nhau ở góc lớp. (The two children sat whispering to each other in the corner of the classroom.)
- Anh ấy nói thầm một câu xin lỗi rồi bước đi. (He whispered an apology and walked away.)
- "Đừng lo," cô ấy nói thầm vào tai tôi. ("Don't worry," she whispered in my ear.)
Advanced Usage
- "nói thầm nói nhỏ": An idiom meaning to speak in hushed, secretive tones, often implying conspiracy or intimacy.
- Họ ngồi trong quán cà phê nói thầm nói nhỏ cả buổi. (They sat in the cafe, whispering and speaking softly to each other all afternoon.)
Variants and Related Words
- Thì thầm (verb): To whisper (often with a sense of intimacy or secrecy). This is a close synonym.
- Gió thì thầm qua kẽ lá. (The wind whispered through the leaves.)
- Lẩm bẩm (verb): To mumble or mutter to oneself.
- Nói nhỏ (verb phrase): To speak in a low voice. This is less specific about using breath and can simply mean speaking quietly.
Synonyms
- Whisper: (verb) To speak very softly.
- Murmur: (verb) To make a low, continuous, indistinct sound, often when speaking.
- Mutter: (verb) To say something in a low or barely audible voice, often in dissatisfaction.
Related Phrases
- Nói thầm thì: A poetic or literary variant meaning to whisper.
- Tiếng sóng nói thầm thì với bờ cát. (The waves whispered to the sandy shore.)
Related Idioms
- Nói bóng nói gió: To speak indirectly or hint at something. While not a direct synonym, it relates to speaking in a non-explicit way, contrasting with the direct but quiet nature of "nói thầm."
- Nửa kín nửa hở: To be half-secretive, half-open. This describes the manner of an action, which could include speaking in whispers.
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Whisper, speak under one's breath
