Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Blurred, indistinct, unclear: Describes something that has lost its sharpness or clarity, often due to an external factor like moisture, tears, or distance.
   • Dimmed, obscured: Describes a light, color, or image that has become less bright or distinct.

2. Verb (used with "đi" or "nhòa đi"):

   • To fade, to become blurred, to dim: The process of losing clarity, sharpness, or vividness over time or due to an influence.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Chữ viết trên tờ giấy ướt đã trở nên nhoà. (The writing on the wet paper became blurred.)
  • Cô ấy nhìn qua làn nước mắt nhoà. (She looked through blurred tears.)
  • Ánh đèn pha từ xa trông rất nhoà. (The headlights from afar looked very dim/indistinct.)

• Verb:

  • Hình ảnh trong ký ức tôi dần nhoà đi. (The images in my memory gradually faded.)
  • Mực nhoà ra khi gặp nước. (The ink smudges/blurs when it gets wet.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm nhoà" / "bị nhoà": to blur / to be blurred.

  • Cơn mưa làm nhoà tầm nhìn. (The rain blurred the vision.)
  • Ranh giới giữa đúng và sai đôi khi bị nhoà. (The line between right and wrong is sometimes blurred.)

• "nhoà nhoẹt": (adjective) very blurred, smudged.

  • Bức tranh bị dính nước, màu sắc nhoà nhoẹt. (The painting got wet, the colors are all smudged.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhòe: A common variant spelling of "nhoà". The meanings and usage are identical.
• Lòa: (verb/adjective) To be dazzled, glaring. While related to vision, it implies an overwhelming brightness rather than a loss of clarity.
  • Ánh đèn pha lòa mắt. (The headlights dazzled my eyes.)
• Mờ: (adjective) Dim, faint, fuzzy. It is a close synonym but often implies a general lack of clarity rather than one caused by smudging or running.
  • tấm gương mờ (a foggy mirror), hình ảnh mờ (a fuzzy image).

Synonyms

• Mờ đi (verb): to fade, to become dim.
• Không rõ ràng (adjective): unclear, indistinct.
• Lu mờ (verb/adjective): to be eclipsed, to become obscure (often used for fame, memory).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nhoà đi: (verb phrase) to fade away, to become blurred. This is the most common verbal form.
  • Nỗi đau rồi cũng sẽ nhoà đi theo thời gian. (The pain will eventually fade with time.)

Related Idioms

• Nước mắt nhoà nhòa: (tears are blurring one's eyes) To be crying, with tears obstructing vision.
  • Cô ấy đứng nhìn theo với nước mắt nhoà nhòa. (She stood watching with tears blurring her eyes.)
• Nhoà ranh giới: to blur the boundary/line.
  • Sự sáng tạo đôi khi nhoà ranh giới giữa thật và ảo. (Creativity sometimes blurs the line between real and imaginary.)

1. Be dimmed, be obscured
   • Kính xe ô tô nhòa vì mưa
     The windshield of the car was dimmed by the rain
2. Fade
   • Mọi kỷ niệm về thời thơ ấu nhòa đi trong trí óc anh ta
     All The memory of his childhood faded from his mind