Definition

1. Noun:

   • Hawk-moth: A type of insect belonging to the moth family, often active at night and attracted to lights, characterized by its rapid, fluttering wingbeats that produce a distinctive clattering sound.

2. Adjective (in idiomatic expression):

   • Describes a manner of laughing that is sudden, uncontrollable, and in repeated bursts, reminiscent of the rapid, clattering sound made by the insect's wings. This is almost exclusively used in the fixed idiom "cười như nắc nẻ".

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Một con nắc nẻ đang bay vo ve quanh ngọn đèn. (A hawk-moth is buzzing around the lamp.)
• Idiomatic Expression:
  • Nghe câu chuyện đó, cả bọn cười như nắc nẻ. (Hearing that story, the whole group burst into peals of laughter.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "nắc nẻ" is rarely used in modern Vietnamese outside of its literal zoological reference or its primary idiomatic expression. Its usage is highly specific.

Variants and Related Words

• Bướm đêm (n): General term for moth.
• Sâu bướm (n): Caterpillar.

Synonyms

• For the insect: hawk-moth, sphinx moth.
• For the laughter in the idiom: to guffaw, to chortle, to cackle.

Related Idioms

• Cười như nắc nẻ: To laugh uncontrollably in sudden, repeated bursts; to chortle or roar with laughter.
  • Chị ấy cười như nắc nẻ khi xem video hài. (She chortled with laughter while watching the comedy video.)

1. Hawk-moth
   • Cười như nắc nẻ
     To burst into peals of laughter, to chortle