nhoen nhoẻn

Thân thiện

Mẹ mắng mà nó cứ nhoen nhoẻn.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Grinning broadly, smiling cheekily: Describes a facial expression of smiling or laughing in a shameless, unembarrassed, or brazen manner, often when such behavior is inappropriate.
   • Smirking, grinning impudently: Refers to smiling in a way that shows a lack of respect, shame, or seriousness, especially in response to criticism or a serious situation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bị mẹ mắng mà nó cứ nhoen nhoẻn. (His mother scolded him, but he just kept grinning cheekily.)
  • Thằng bé nhoen nhoẻn cười khi bị bắt quả tang. (The boy gave a shameless grin when he was caught red-handed.)
  • Đừng có nhoen nhoẻn khi người lớn đang nói chuyện nghiêm túc. (Don't smirk when adults are having a serious conversation.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used to describe a persistent, inappropriate smile that disregards social context, such as during a reprimand. It carries a negative connotation of immaturity, disrespect, or a lack of contrition.
• Can be used in a slightly less negative, more playful context among peers, though it still implies a degree of cheekiness.
  • Nó trả lời câu hỏi sai mà vẫn nhoen nhoẻn. (He answered the question wrong but still grinned unabashedly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhoẻn (v, adj): The root form, meaning to grin or smile broadly, often with the same connotation of shamelessness. "Nhoen nhoẻn" is the reduplicated form, which emphasizes the continuous or repeated nature of the action.
  • Nó nhoẻn miệng cười. (He grinned.)
• Cười nhoẻn: A common collocation meaning "to grin."
  • Nó cười nhoẻn một cái rồi chạy mất. (He grinned once and then ran away.)

Synonyms

• Cười trơ tráo: To smile brazenly/shamelessly.
• Cười vô tư: To smile innocently/carefreely (can be similar in the "unembarrassed" aspect but is less negative).
• Cười toe toét: To grin from ear to ear (can be neutral or positive, but in context, can imply a silly or inappropriate broad smile).

Notes on Meaning

• The word strongly implies that the smile is out of place, showing a lack of awareness or care for the seriousness of the situation. It is not a polite or respectful smile.
• It is almost exclusively used to describe a person's facial expression, particularly their smile or laugh.

Học thuật

1. xem nhoẻn