Definition

1. Adverbial phrase:
   • With one's own eyes: This phrase is used to emphasize that someone sees something directly, personally, and without any intermediary, guaranteeing the truth or reality of the observation.

Usage Examples

• Adverbial phrase:
  • Tôi đã tận mắt chứng kiến sự việc. (I witnessed the incident with my own eyes.)
  • Bạn phải tận mắt nhìn thấy mới tin được. (You have to see it with your own eyes to believe it.)
  • Cô ấy tận mắt thấy anh ta rời đi. (She saw him leave with her own eyes.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is almost always used with verbs of perception like thấy (to see), nhìn thấy (to see/look at), chứng kiến (to witness), or xem (to watch). It intensifies the verb by stressing direct, first-hand experience.

Variants and Related Words

• Mục sở thị: (Verb phrase) A more formal or literary synonym meaning "to see with one's own eyes" or "to witness personally."

Synonyms

• Personally: in person; done or made by a particular person.
• Firsthand: obtained or experienced directly from the original source.
• Directly: without anything or anyone in between.

Related Idioms

• Tai nghe không bằng mắt thấy: (Proverb) Hearing is not as good as seeing. This proverb underscores the value of direct, visual evidence, which is the core concept of tận mắt.