Definition

1. Verb:
   • To look upward, to raise one's eyes: The primary meaning of "ngước" is to direct one's gaze upward, typically by moving the head or eyes. It implies looking at something positioned higher than the observer's current eye level.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy ngước nhìn lên bầu trời đầy sao. (She looked up at the starry sky.)
  • Đứa trẻ ngước mắt nhìn mẹ với vẻ thắc mắc. (The child looked up at his mother with a questioning expression.)
  • Anh ta ngước lên và thấy một con chim đang đậu trên cành cây. (He looked up and saw a bird perched on a branch.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngước lên": to look up (often used for emphasis or clarity).

  • Cô ấy phải ngước lên rất cao mới thấy được đỉnh tòa nhà. (She had to look up very high to see the top of the building.)

• "ngước mắt lên": to raise one's eyes upward (a more descriptive phrase).

  • Nghe thấy tiếng gọi, tôi ngước mắt lên nhìn. (Hearing the call, I raised my eyes to look.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngước mắt (verb phrase): to raise one's eyes. This is a common collocation.
• Ngước nhìn (verb phrase): to look upward. This combines "ngước" with "nhìn" (to look).

Synonyms

• Ngẩng (lên): to lift (one's head) up. While "ngẩng" often refers to the head, "ngước" specifically relates to the eyes or gaze.
• Nhìn lên: to look up. This is a more general phrase, whereas "ngước" often carries a nuance of effort or a distinct upward movement.

Related Idioms

• Ngước mặt lên trời: To look up to the sky/heavens. This can be used literally or figuratively to express despair, hope, or a search for answers.
  • Trong lúc tuyệt vọng, anh ấy chỉ biết ngước mặt lên trời. (In despair, he could only look up to the heavens.)

1. Raise [one's eyes]
   • Ngước nhìn bước tranh treo trên cao
     To turn up one's eyes and look at a picture hung high