Definition

1. Adverb:

   • In a hint, a whiff of; slightly: Describes something perceived very faintly, lightly, or for a very brief moment, often referring to a scent, sound, or feeling.

2. Verb (literary/poetic):

   • To waft; to drift lightly: To move or be carried gently and lightly through the air, such as a breeze or a fragrance.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • Trong phòng thoảng mùi hoa nhài. (A scent of jasmine wafted in the room.)
  • Tôi thoảng nghe thấy tiếng hát từ xa. (I faintly heard singing from afar.)
  • Một cảm giác buồn thoảng qua. (A feeling of sadness passed lightly.)

• Verb:

  • Gió thoảng qua kẽ lá. (The breeze wafted through the leaves.)
  • Hương thơm thoảng trong gió. (The fragrance drifted lightly in the wind.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in its reduplicated form "thoang thoảng" to express an even more attenuated, very faint, or intermittent quality.
  • Có mùi thơm thoang thoảng của gạo mới. (There is a very faint, wafting scent of new rice.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thoang thoảng (adv): Very faintly; intermittently; in slight, occasional whiffs.
  • Mùi bánh mì nướng thoang thoảng từ nhà hàng. (The smell of toasted bread wafted very faintly from the restaurant.)

Synonyms

• Faintly: In a way that is barely perceptible.
• Lightly: With little weight or force; gently.
• Waft: To pass or cause to pass gently through the air.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Thoảng qua: To pass lightly/by fleetingly; to be transient.
  • Ý nghĩ ấy chỉ thoảng qua trong đầu tôi. (That thought just fleetingly passed through my mind.)

1. (thoang thoảng)in a hint, a whiff of; slightly