Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Keen-eared, sharp-eared: Having good hearing; able to hear sounds clearly and distinctly. This term is often used to describe elderly people who have maintained good hearing ability despite their age.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông cụ 90 tuổi nhưng vẫn rất sáng tai. (The 90-year-old man is still very keen-eared.)
  • Bà tôi may mắn là còn sáng tai, vẫn nghe rõ chuyện trò. (My grandmother is fortunate to still have sharp ears and can hear conversations clearly.)

Advanced Usage

• "sáng mắt sáng tai": A common paired phrase meaning "sharp-eyed and sharp-eared," used to describe someone who is still perceptive and alert in their old age.
  • Cụ bà sống thọ và vẫn sáng mắt sáng tai. (The elderly lady has lived a long life and remains sharp-eyed and sharp-eared.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thính tai (adj): This is a more common and general synonym for having good, acute hearing. It can apply to anyone, not specifically the elderly.
  • Con chó đó rất thính tai. (That dog is very sharp-eared.)
• Lãng tai (adj): The antonym, meaning hard of hearing or somewhat deaf.
  • Ông ấy hơi lãng tai nên bạn phải nói to. (He is a bit hard of hearing, so you have to speak loudly.)

Synonyms

• Có thính giác tốt: To have good hearing.
• Tai còn thính: (Ears are still) sharp.

Related Idioms

• "Sáng con mắt, sáng cái tai": An idiom emphasizing that someone is still very alert and aware, with all their senses (sight and hearing) intact.
  • Dù đã cao tuổi, cụ ông vẫn sáng con mắt, sáng cái tai. (Despite his advanced age, the old man is still clear-eyed and keen-eared.)

adj

1. keen-eared