nhoáy
Definition
Adverb:
- Extremely quickly or in a flash: Describes an action completed with remarkable speed and often with a sense of ease or deftness.
- In a twinkling or blink of an eye: Emphasizes the brevity and instantaneous nature of an action.
Adjective (in the reduplicated form "nhoay nhoáy"):
- Very fast and continuous; briskly and busily: Describes rapid, repeated, or ongoing activity.
Usage Examples
Adverb:
- Nó làm xong bài tập nhoáy. (He finished the homework in a flash.)
- Chiếc xe vụt qua nhoáy. (The car zoomed past in a blink.)
Adjective (reduplicated form):
- Bàn tay bé làm nhoay nhoáy. (The child's hands were working busily and quickly.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used informally to emphasize speed and efficiency. The reduplicated form "nhoay nhoáy" intensifies the meaning, suggesting not just speed but also continuous or bustling motion.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhoay nhoáy (adj/adv): The reduplicated form, meaning very fast, brisk, or in a constant, rapid motion.
- Mọi người làm việc nhoay nhoáy. (Everyone was working very briskly.)
Synonyms
- Quickly: at a fast speed.
- In a flash: very quickly and suddenly.
- Briskly: in an active, quick, or energetic manner.
Related Idioms
- Nhanh như nhoáy: As quick as a flash; used to compare someone's speed to the extreme quickness denoted by "nhoáy."
- Cậu ấy giải được bài toán nhanh như nhoáy. (He solved the math problem as quick as a flash.)