Definition

1. Verb:
   • To illuminate, to shine a light on: To direct light onto something, making it visible or clearer. Often used literally with physical light sources.
   • To scrutinize, to examine closely: To observe or investigate something in great detail, often with a critical eye. This is a figurative extension of the literal meaning.
   • To enlighten, to shed light on: To clarify a subject, issue, or truth, making it understandable. This usage is also figurative.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Illuminating):
  • Ngọn đèn đường soi rọi con phố nhỏ. (The street lamp illuminated the small street.)
  • Ánh đèn pin của anh ấy soi rọi vào góc tối. (His flashlight beam shone into the dark corner.)
• Figurative (Scrutinizing):
  • Báo chí luôn soi rọi đời tư của các ngôi sao. (The press always scrutinizes the private lives of stars.)
  • Không nên soi rọi quá khứ của người khác. (You shouldn't examine someone else's past too closely.)
• Figurative (Enlightening):
  • Bài nghiên cứu này soi rọi nguyên nhân sâu xa của vấn đề. (This research sheds light on the root cause of the problem.)
  • Lời khuyên của thầy đã soi rọi con đường tôi nên đi. (The teacher's advice enlightened the path I should take.)

Advanced Usage

• "soi rọi một cách kỹ lưỡng/tỉ mỉ": to scrutinize meticulously/thoroughly.
  • Cảnh sát đang soi rọi một cách kỹ lưỡng mọi manh mối. (The police are meticulously scrutinizing every clue.)
• "ánh mắt soi rọi": a scrutinizing/piercing gaze.
  • Ánh mắt soi rọi của ông giám đốc khiến nhân viên căng thẳng. (The director's piercing gaze makes employees nervous.)

Variants and Related Words

• Soi (verb): to shine a light on, to look at (in a mirror). A simpler, more common component of "soi rọi".
  • Soi gương (to look in a mirror).
• Rọi (verb): to project light onto, to illuminate. Often used in compounds.
  • Đèn rọi (spotlight).
• Chiếu rọi (verb): synonymous with "soi rọi" in its literal sense of illuminating.
  • Ánh sáng chiếu rọi khán phòng. (The light illuminated the auditorium.)

Synonyms

• Illuminate/Chiếu sáng: To light up. (More neutral, less intense than "soi rọi").
• Examine/Xem xét: To inspect. (More general, less connotative of intense focus than the figurative "soi rọi").
• Analyze/Phân tích: To study in detail. (More academic/technical).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a single verb unit, "soi rọi" itself is not typically broken into phrasal verbs. Its usage is as shown above.

Related Idioms

• "Soi rọi từng ly từng tí": To scrutinize every tiny detail.
  • Ông chủ mới soi rọi từng ly từng tí các khoản chi tiêu. (The new boss scrutinizes every single expense in minute detail.)
• "Ánh sáng soi rọi chân lý": The light that illuminates the truth. (A poetic/philosophical expression).
  • Tri thức là ánh sáng soi rọi chân lý. (Knowledge is the light that illuminates truth.)

1. Light up; shed light on; enlighten