Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely pale; deathly pale; ashen: Describes a complexion that is unnaturally and severely pale, often due to shock, illness, or fear. It implies a pallor that is more intense than simply "tái" (pale).
   • Livid; wan: Can describe a sickly, bluish, or leaden pale color, similar to the French "blafard" or "livide" from the reference.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nghe tin dữ, mặt cô ấy tái ngắt. (Hearing the bad news, her face turned deathly pale.)
  • Đứa bé sốt cao, người tái ngắt. (The child had a high fever and was extremely pale.)
  • Sau ca phẫu thuật, bệnh nhân trông tái ngắt. (After the surgery, the patient looked ashen.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in literary or descriptive contexts to vividly portray a character's physical state resulting from extreme emotional or physical distress.

Variants and Related Words

• Tái (adj): Pale. A more general and common term for paleness.
  • Mặt anh ấy tái đi vì sợ hãi. (His face turned pale with fear.)
• Tái mét (adj): Very pale; deathly pale. A near-synonym and the definition provided in the Vietnamese reference dictionary.
  • Sắc mặt ông ấy tái mét khi nhìn thấy cảnh tượng. (His complexion was deathly pale when he saw the scene.)

Synonyms

• Deathly pale: Extremely and unnaturally pale.
• Ashen: Pale gray in color, like ash.
• Livid: Discolored, bluish-pale, often from bruising or anger, but can indicate pallor.
• Wan: Pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion.
• Ghastly pale: Pale in a shocking or frightening way.

Related Idioms

• Mặt tái ngắt như vải (idiom): Face as pale as cloth. A simile emphasizing extreme paleness.
  • Thấy ma, nó đứng hình, mặt tái ngắt như vải. (Seeing the ghost, he froze, his face as pale as cloth.)