Definition

1. Verb:
   • To groan, to moan softly and continuously: "rên rỉ" describes the act of making a low, prolonged sound expressing physical pain, discomfort, or sometimes mental distress. It implies a quieter, more persistent, or muffled sound compared to a loud cry or shout.
   • To whimper, to whine: It can also describe a soft, complaining sound, often expressing minor suffering or discontent.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người bệnh rên rỉ vì đau đớn. (The patient groaned in pain.)
  • Đứa trẻ rên rỉ đòi mua đồ chơi. (The child whined to buy a toy.)
  • Anh ấy chỉ nằm im và rên rỉ một mình. (He just lay still and moaned to himself.)

Advanced Usage

• "rên rỉ than vãn": to moan and complain.

  • Cô ấy suốt ngày rên rỉ than vãn về công việc. (She spends all day moaning and complaining about her job.)

• Used to describe non-human sounds metaphorically:

  • Cánh cửa cũ kêu rên rỉ mỗi khi gió thổi. (The old door creaked/groaned every time the wind blew.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rên (verb): to groan, to moan. This is the root word, often implying a single or more noticeable sound.

  • Tiếng rên đau đớn vang lên từ phòng bệnh. (A painful groan echoed from the hospital room.)

• Than rên (verb phrase): to lament, to bewail (combining complaining and groaning).

  • Ông cụ than rên về những cơn đau khớp. (The old man lamented his joint pains.)

Synonyms

• Kêu ca: to complain, to grumble (focuses more on verbal complaint than sound of pain).
• Rền rĩ: This is a close variant, also meaning to groan or moan persistently.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Rên rỉ vì...: to groan/moan because of...
  • Nó rên rỉ vì bị mẹ mắng. (He whimpered because he was scolded by his mother.)

Related Idioms

• Rên như trâu rống: (Literally: to groan like a bellowing buffalo) An idiom emphasizing very loud and intense groaning, often used hyperbolically.
  • Chỉ bị cảm nhẹ mà anh ta rên như trâu rống. (He only had a slight cold but he groaned as if in agony.)

1. Groan
   • Đau bụng rên rỉ cả đêm
     To groan all night because of a belly-ache