Definition

1. Interjection:
   • A cry of pain from a child: A loud, sharp, and often prolonged vocalization made by a child when they are hurt, typically from being hit or experiencing sudden pain.
   • A sound of wailing or loud crying: Represents the intense, distressed crying of a young child.

Usage Examples

• Interjection:
  • Đứa bé ngã đau, kêu oe oé. (The child fell and hurt themselves, crying "oe oé".)
  • Bị mẹ phạt, nó khóc oe oé. (Being punished by his mother, he wailed "oe oé".)

Advanced Usage

• The term is an onomatopoeic reduplication, where "oe" is repeated with a change in tone ("oé") to vividly mimic the sound and intensity of a child's cry. It is almost exclusively used to describe the cries of very young children.

Variants and Related Words

• Oe oe (interjection): A similar onomatopoeic sound for a child's cry, though "oe oé" often implies a sharper or more pained reaction.
  • Em bé mới sinh khóc oe oe. (The newborn baby is crying "oe oe".)

Synonyms

• Wail: To utter a long, high-pitched cry of pain or distress.
• Howl: To cry out loudly and without restraint.
• Bawl: To cry or shout loudly.

Related Idioms

• Khóc oe oé: To wail or cry loudly (specifically like a child).
  • Đứa trẻ khóc oe oé suốt buổi chiều. (The child wailed "oe oé" all afternoon.)