Definition

1. Onomatopoeia / Adjective:
   • Cascading noise; Rustling sound: Describes a continuous, uniform, and repetitive sound, often produced by a large number of small impacts in quick succession, like rain, falling leaves, or wind through dense foliage.
   • Pattering; Drumming: Refers to a rapid, rhythmic, and steady sound, similar to the noise of heavy rain or many light objects striking a surface.

Usage Examples

• Onomatopoeia / Adjective:
  • Mưa rào rào trên mái tôn. (The rain pattered noisily on the corrugated iron roof.)
  • Lá khô rào rào trong gió. (The dry leaves rustled in the wind.)
  • Tiếng vỗ tay rào rào. (The applause came in a roaring wave.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is primarily used as an onomatopoeic adverb or adjective following a verb (e.g., , ). It vividly evokes the sensory experience of the sound.
• It can describe not just natural phenomena but also metaphorical "waves" of sound from a crowd.

Variants and Related Words

• Ào ào (onomatopoeia): Describes a louder, more rushing, or roaring sound (e.g., of a waterfall, strong wind, or a large crowd).
• Lào xào (onomatopoeia): Describes a lighter, murmuring, or whispering sound (e.g., of light wind, quiet chatter, or papers).

Synonyms

• Patter: A quick, successive, light tapping sound.
• Rustle: A soft, muffled crackling sound.
• Drumming: A continuous, rhythmic beating sound.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mưa rào rào (idiomatic phrase): Rain falling heavily and noisily.
  • Trời đổ cơn mưa rào rào. (The sky let down a heavy, drumming rain.)

1. Cascading noise
   • Mưa rào rào
     It rained with a cascading noise