Definition

1. Verb:
   • To emerge or come out with difficulty or reluctance: Refers to something appearing, being produced, or being revealed after effort, pressure, or hesitation. It often implies the subject is unwilling or that the action is labored.
   • To disburse or pay out reluctantly: Used when someone gives money or resources grudgingly or only after persistent demand.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Góc chăn tòi ra ngoài màn. (The corner of the blanket emerged from outside the mosquito net.)
  • Từ dưới ao tòi lên. (It emerged with difficulty from the pond.)
  • Tôi nói mãi nó mới tòi ra một ít tiền. (I talked for a long time before he reluctantly forked over a little money.)
  • Hỏi mãi nó mới tòi ra một vài chi tiết. (After being questioned persistently, he finally revealed a few details.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "tòi" is almost always used with a particle like "ra" (out) to form the phrasal verb "tòi ra," meaning "to bring out" or "to reveal" reluctantly.
• It carries a connotation of something being extracted with difficulty from a confined, hidden, or withheld state.

Variants and Related Words

• Lòi ra (v): To protrude, to stick out. This is a close synonym but more neutral, often describing physical protrusion without the same strong connotation of reluctance.
  • Cái đinh lòi ra khỏi tường. (The nail is sticking out of the wall.)

Synonyms

• Emerge (reluctantly): To come out into view, especially with effort.
• Fork over: To hand over money, especially unwillingly (slang).
• Disclose (grudgingly): To reveal information unwillingly.

Related Idioms

• Tòi ruột, tòi gan: An idiom expressing extreme anger or frustration, literally suggesting one's intestines or liver are being forced out.
  • Nghe tin đó tôi tức đến tòi ruột tòi gan. (Hearing that news made me furious enough to burst my guts.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Tòi ra: The primary and most common construction. Means to bring out, reveal, or produce reluctantly.
  • Bắt nó phải tòi ra sự thật. (Force him to cough up the truth.)