nhăn nhíu
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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.)