phào
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Onomatopoeic word / Ideophone:
- Like a breath; quickly and lightly: Describes a sound or action that is brief, soft, and fleeting, similar to a gentle exhalation or a quick, light motion. It often implies something happens and ends swiftly.
- In a flash; in an instant: Used to depict something that burns out, disappears, or passes very rapidly.
Usage Examples
- As an ideophone:
- Gió thổi phào. (The wind blew softly and briefly / like a breath.)
- Đóm cháy phào. (The spill burned out in a flash / like a breath.)
- Cơn giận ấy qua phào. (That fit of anger passed quickly.)
Advanced Usage
- "thở phào": This is a common compound verb where "phào" intensifies the verb "thở" (to breathe). It means "to heave a sigh (of relief)".
- Cô ấy thở phào nhẹ nhõm. (She heaved a sigh of relief.)
- The word "phào" is rarely used alone in modern Vietnamese. Its primary function is as an ideophonic element following a verb (like , ) to describe the manner of the action, or as part of the fixed phrase "thở phào".
Variants and Related Words
- Thở phào (compound verb): To sigh with relief.
- Phào (noun): In construction, a tool used by masons to create cornices or moldings at the edge of a ceiling. (Note: This is a distinct, homonymous noun unrelated to the ideophone).
- Người thợ dùng cái phào để tạo đường chỉ. (The worker uses a molding tool to create a decorative line.)
Synonyms
- Phù (onomatopoeic): Like a puff; softly and briefly.
- Vèo (onomatopoeic): Swiftly; in a whizzing manner.
- Loáng (adverb): In a flash; instantly.
Notes on Meaning
- The core meaning of the ideophone "phào" is to describe a brief, soft, and swift action or sound, often compared to a gentle breath or a quick flash.
- It is crucial to distinguish it from the homonymous noun "phào" (the masonry tool), which has a completely different meaning and usage.
- Like a breath
- Gió thổi phàoThere was only a breath of wind
- Đóm cháy phàoThe spill burned out like a breath