sướt mướt
Definition
- Adjective:
- Excessively and tearfully sentimental; maudlin; lachrymose: Describes a state of being overly emotional, especially in a tearful, whiny, or self-pitying manner. It implies a display of emotion that is perceived as weak, indulgent, or lacking in dignity.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy khóc sướt mướt khi xem bộ phim buồn. (She cried maudlinly while watching the sad movie.)
- Đừng có sướt mướt nữa, hãy mạnh mẽ lên! (Stop being so lachrymose; be strong!)
- Giọng văn của cuốn tiểu thuyết đó hơi sướt mướt. (The prose of that novel is somewhat overly sentimental.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is almost always used in a critical or disapproving sense to describe someone's behavior or a style of expression (in writing, film, etc.) as excessively and unattractively tearful or sentimental.
Variants and Related Words
- Sướt: A less common, abbreviated root implying dampness or moisture, often related to tears. "Sướt mướt" is the standard and complete form.
- Mướt: Can imply a glossy, wet sheen (e.g., "lá mướt" - glossy leaves), contributing to the imagery of wetness from tears in the compound.
Synonyms
- Maudlin: Sentimental in a self-pitying or tearful way.
- Lachrymose: Inclined to weep; tearful.
- Mawkish: Sentimental in a feeble or sickly way.
- Overly sentimental: Excessively emotional.
Related Idioms
- Khóc sướt mướt: To cry in a blubbering, overly emotional way.
- Đứa trẻ khóc sướt mướt vì bị mất đồ chơi. (The child cried pitifully because he lost his toy.)