Definition

1. Verb:

   • To squint, to slightly close (one eye): The action of partially closing one eye, often to see more clearly, aim, or express an emotion.
   • To wrinkle (around the eyes): Often occurs when squinting or smiling brightly.

2. Noun:

   • Catfish (a specific type): A type of freshwater catfish (from the family Siluridae), typically scaleless with smooth, slimy skin.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông ấy nheo mắt nhìn vào ánh nắng. (He squinted his eyes looking into the sunlight.)
  • Cô ấy nheo mắt cười khi nghe tin vui. (She smiled with her eyes crinkled when she heard the good news.)
• Noun:
  • Bữa trưa hôm nay có món canh chua cá nheo. (Today's lunch features sour soup with catfish.)

Advanced Usage

• "nheo mắt lại": to squint one's eyes (often deliberately).
  • Anh ta nheo mắt lại để đọc dòng chữ nhỏ. (He squinted his eyes to read the small print.)
• "nheo mắt cười": to smile with one's eyes crinkling.
  • Kiểu nheo mắt cười ấy rất đặc trưng của bà. (That style of smiling with crinkled eyes is very characteristic of her.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cá nheo (n): A specific type of catfish. This is a compound noun where "nheo" is the specific fish name.
• Nheo nhéo (adj/adv): Describes a shrill, high-pitched, and annoying sound (e.g., of children crying or arguing). This is a reduplicative form with a distinct meaning.
• Nheo nhách (adj): Describes something sparse, scattered, or meager.

Synonyms

• Nháy (v): To blink or wink. (Note: "Nháy" implies a quicker, full closure of the eyelid, while "nheo" implies a sustained, partial closure.)
• Liếc (v): To glance sideways. (Different action, but can sometimes be accompanied by squinting.)
• Cá trê (n): Another type of catfish. (A different species, but a related aquatic animal.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(This section is less common for Vietnamese verbs in the same way as English phrasal verbs. The verb "nheo" is typically used with specific objects.) - The verb "nheo" is most commonly paired with "mắt" (eyes) to form the phrase "nheo mắt" (to squint).

Related Idioms

• Nheo mắt ngắm nghía: To squint while carefully observing or appraising something.
  • Người thợ kim hoàn nheo mắt ngắm nghía viên đá quý. (The jeweler squinted while carefully appraising the gemstone.)
• (Cười) nheo cả mắt: (To smile) until one's eyes completely crinkle; to smile very broadly and happily.
  • Bà nội cười nheo cả mắt khi thấy các cháu. (Grandmother smiled until her eyes crinkled when she saw her grandchildren.)

1. xem cá nheo
2. Close slightly (one eye)
   • Nheo mắt nhắm đích
     To close one's eye and aim at the target