Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Wrinkled, creased: Describes a surface, especially skin or fabric, that has many small folds or lines. Often used to describe facial expressions showing displeasure, worry, or deep thought.
   • Scrunched up: Describes something that is contracted or gathered into wrinkles, like a face or brow.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Trán anh ấy nhăn nhíu vì suy nghĩ. (His forehead was wrinkled in thought.)
  • Mảnh giấy bị vo nhăn nhíu. (The piece of paper was crumpled into creases.)
  • Bà cụ cười, để lộ khuôn mặt nhăn nhíu. (The old lady smiled, revealing her wrinkled face.)
  • Nó nhăn nhíu mặt lại khi uống thuốc đắng. (He scrunched his face up when drinking the bitter medicine.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhăn nhíu trán": to furrow/wrinkle one's brow (in concentration or displeasure).

  • Cô ấy nhăn nhíu trán đọc bản hợp đồng phức tạp. (She furrowed her brow while reading the complicated contract.)

• "mặt nhăn nhíu": a scrunched/wrinkled face (often showing dissatisfaction).

  • Đứa bé làm mặt nhăn nhíu khi không được ăn kẹo. (The child made a scrunched-up face when he wasn't allowed to have candy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhăn (adj/verb): To wrinkle; wrinkled. Often used alone or in compounds. It is the root meaning "wrinkle."

  • Vải này dễ bị nhăn. (This fabric wrinkles easily.)

• Nhíu (verb): To knit, to contract (e.g., eyebrows). Often used with "mày" (eyebrows). It implies a tighter, more intentional gathering.

  • Cô ấy nhíu mày lại. (She knitted her eyebrows.)

• Nhăn nheo (adj): Very wrinkled, crumpled; can imply a more disorderly or extensive state of wrinkles than "nhăn nhíu."

  • Tờ báo cũ nhăn nheo. (The old newspaper was all crumpled.)

Synonyms

• Cau có (adj): Frowning, scowling. Specifically refers to a displeased facial expression, often involving the brow and mouth.
• Nhàu nát (adj): Crumpled, crushed (for objects like paper, fabric). Implies a more severe state of being wrinkled.

Related Phrases

• Nhăn nhó (verb/phrase): To grimace (in pain or disgust). Focuses on the expression of discomfort.
  • Nó nhăn nhó vì đau bụng. (He grimaced from a stomachache.)

Related Idioms

• Mặt nhăn như khỉ ăn ớt: (Idiom) Literally "face as wrinkled as a monkey eating chili"; means making an extremely scrunched-up, unpleasant face.
  • Nghe tin đó, mặt anh ta nhăn như khỉ ăn ớt. (Hearing that news, his face scrunched up terribly.)

adj

1. creased up, wrinkled up