Definition

1. Adjective (descriptive reduplicative):

   • Flashing or rolling (of eyes in anger): Describes the rapid, fierce, and rolling movement of someone's eyes when they are extremely angry.
   • Bubbling or gurgling (of a sound): Describes the repetitive, bubbling sound produced by water or liquid moving through a confined space, such as in a water pipe.

2. Adverb:

   • Rapidly and directly (of movement): Describes moving forward quickly and in a straight, determined line.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta tức giận, mắt long sòng sọc. (He was furious, his eyes flashing angrily.)
  • Nghe tiếng nước kêu sòng sọc trong ống. (Hear the water making a gurgling sound in the pipe.)
• Adverb:
  • Cái già sòng sọc nó thì theo sau. (Old age follows rapidly and relentlessly behind it.)

Advanced Usage

• "sòng sọc" is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of the root word "sọc" (stripe, line). The reduplication intensifies the meaning, suggesting a repetitive, continuous, or vigorous action or sound.

Variants and Related Words

• Sọc (n): a stripe or line.
  • Vải có sọc đỏ. (The fabric has red stripes.)
• Lòng sòng sọc (phrase): to roll one's eyes fiercely (a common collocation with the word).

Synonyms

• For eyes: Glaring, flashing, rolling (angrily).
• For sound: Gurgling, bubbling, burbling.
• For movement: Rapidly, straight, relentlessly.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most common modern usage relates to angry facial expressions, specifically the eyes.
• The meaning related to sound is specific, often describing the noise from a water pipe (điếu cày) or similar object.
• The adverbial meaning describing rapid, direct movement is less common in contemporary use but found in classical literature and idioms.

1. Flashing angry glares
   • Nổi giận, mắt long sòng sọc
     To fly into a passion with one's eyes flashing angry glares
2. Bubling
   • Điếu kêu sòng sọc
     the hookah emitted bubbling noises
   • xem sọc (láy)