Definition

1. Verb:
   • To knit, to furrow (one's brows): To bring one's eyebrows closer together, typically when thinking deeply, concentrating, or expressing negative emotions like anger, worry, or displeasure.
   • To stitch summarily, to baste, to tack: To sew two edges of fabric together quickly and temporarily, often to mend a tear or to gather fabric, without concern for neatness.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to knit/furrow):
  • Cô ấy nhíu mày khi đọc bức thư. (She knitted her brows when reading the letter.)
  • Đừng nhíu mắt lại dưới ánh nắng như vậy. (Don't squint like that in the sunlight.)
• Verb (to stitch):
  • Bà tôi nhíu tạm chỗ rách trên áo. (My grandmother tacked the tear on the shirt temporarily.)
  • Anh ấy nhíu vội đường chỉ cho khỏi tuột. (He quickly basted the seam to prevent it from unraveling.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhíu nhíu": This reduplicated form indicates a repeated, slight, or hesitant action of knitting/furrowing or stitching.
  • Cậu bé nhíu nhíu mắt lại vì chói. (The boy kept squinting slightly because of the glare.)
• "nhíu mày lại": To frown, to knit one's brows together (often implying deeper thought or stronger emotion).
  • Nghe tin đó, anh ta nhíu mày lại. (Upon hearing that news, he frowned.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cau mày: (Verb) To frown, to scowl. This is a stronger, more intense expression of displeasure than "nhíu mày."
• Khâu: (Verb) To sew, to stitch. This is the general term for sewing, while "nhíu" implies a quick, temporary, or rough stitch.
• Chau mày: (Verb) Similar to "cau mày," meaning to knit one's brows in worry or deep thought.

Synonyms

• For "nhíu mày/mắt": Cau mày (frown), chau mày (knit brows), nheo mắt (squint).
• For "nhíu" (stitching): Khâu vội (sew hastily), may tạm (sew temporarily).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nhíu mày: To knit/furrow one's brows.
• Nhíu mắt: To squint, to narrow one's eyes.
• Nhíu mi: To purse one's lips (less common, but can be used similarly to express thought or disapproval).

Related Idioms

• Nhíu mày suy nghĩ: To knit one's brows in thought.
  • Anh ấy ngồi nhíu mày suy nghĩ về vấn đề khó. (He sat knitting his brows in thought over the difficult problem.)
• Mặt nhíu lại: (One's) face scrunches up.
  • Đứa trẻ mặt nhíu lại sắp khóc. (The child's face scrunched up, about to cry.)

1. Knit (the brows)
   • Nhíu mày giận dữ
     To knit the brows in anger
2. Stitch summarily
   • Nhíu chỗ quần toạc ra
     To stitch summarily a tear in one's trousers