Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Shrill, piercing (of sound): Describes a high-pitched, sharp, and often unpleasant sound, typically a voice or a cry. It emphasizes the thin, sharp quality of the sound.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Giọng nói của cô ấy nghe rất the thé. (Her voice sounds very shrill.)
  • Tiếng còi báo động vang lên the thé. (The alarm siren sounded with a piercing shriek.)
  • Đừng nói chuyện bằng giọng the thé như vậy. (Don't speak in such a shrill voice.)

Advanced Usage

• "nói the thé": to speak in a shrill voice.

  • Cô ấy cứ nói the thé lên mỗi khi tranh cãi. (She always speaks shrilly whenever she argues.)

• "kêu the thé": to cry/scream shrilly.

  • Đứa trẻ kêu the thé lên vì sợ hãi. (The child screamed shrilly in fear.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thé (adj): This is the root word, also meaning shrill or piercing. "The thé" is the reduplicative form (láy), which often intensifies the meaning.
  • Tiếng hét thật thê thảm và thé lên. (The scream was truly tragic and shrill.)

Synonyms

• Chói tai (adj): ear-piercing, grating (focuses on the unpleasant effect on the ears).
• Lanh lảnh (adj): clear and ringing (can be high-pitched but not necessarily unpleasant; often used for bells or beautiful singing voices).

Antonyms

• Trầm ấm (adj): deep and warm (of voice).
• Êm dịu (adj): soft, gentle (of sound).

adj

1. shrill, piercing