ngoe ngóe

Thân thiện

Sau cơn mưa, tiếng nhái kêu ngoe ngóe vang lên từ đầm nước.

Definition

1. Onomatopoeia / Adjective:
   • Croaking sound: The word "ngoe ngóe" is an onomatopoeic term that imitates the repetitive, high-pitched, and often shrill croaking or chirping sound made by small frogs or tree toads.
   • Wriggling movement (figurative): By extension, it can describe a small, feeble, or squirming movement, often used to depict something small and alive moving slightly, similar to the motion of a tadpole or a small creature.

Usage Examples

• Onomatopoeia:
  • Trong đêm yên tĩnh, chỉ nghe tiếng nhái kêu ngoe ngóe. (In the quiet night, only the sound of tree-toads croaking "ngoe ngóe" could be heard.)
  • Những chú nòng nọc bơi ngoe ngóe trong nước. (The tadpoles swam, wriggling "ngoe ngóe" in the water.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in descriptive, literary, or colloquial contexts to vividly convey sound or movement. It is not typically used in formal technical writing.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoe nguẩy: This is a more common variant that strongly emphasizes a wriggling or wagging motion (e.g., of a tail or a small body), rather than a sound.
  • Con chó vẫy đuôi ngoe nguẩy. (The dog wagged its tail "ngoe nguẩy".)

Synonyms

• Croak: (for sound) to make a deep, hoarse sound, though "ngoe ngóe" is typically higher-pitched.
• Chirp: (for sound) a short, sharp sound, often of a small bird or frog.
• Wriggle: (for movement) to twist and turn with quick, small movements.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "ngoe ngóe." Its figurative use describing slight movement is itself idiomatic.

Học thuật

1. Croak
   • Nhái kêu ngoe ngóe
     Tree-toads were croaking