thướt tha
Definition
- Adjective:
- Graceful and flowing: Describes clothing, especially long dresses or robes, that hang in a soft, elegant, and flowing manner.
- Slender and elegant: Describes a woman's figure or movements as being tall, slender, and moving with a soft, graceful elegance.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Chiếc váy dài màu trắng trông rất thướt tha. (The long white dress looks very graceful and flowing.)
- Dáng đi thướt tha của cô ấy thu hút mọi ánh nhìn. (Her graceful, elegant walk attracted every gaze.)
- Tà áo dài thướt tha trong gió. (The flowing áo dài tunic fluttered in the wind.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a poetic connotation and is almost exclusively used to describe feminine beauty, attire, or movement in a complimentary and aesthetic manner.
- It can describe the visual effect of lightweight fabrics like silk or chiffon moving softly.
Variants and Related Words
- Tha thướt: A variant form with the same meaning, often used for poetic or emphatic effect.
- Mái tóc dài tha thướt. (The long, flowing hair.)
Synonyms
- Flowing: Moving in a smooth, continuous way.
- Graceful: Having elegance or beauty of form, movement, or expression.
- Willowy: Tall, slender, and graceful.
Antonyms
- Cumbersome: Clumsy or difficult to carry or wear because of size or shape.
- Stiff: Not easily bent or moved; rigid.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- While "thướt tha" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is a key descriptive word in Vietnamese poetry and songs to depict idealized feminine grace.
- "Thướt tha tà áo mùa xuân." (Flowing are the spring tunic dresses.) – a common poetic image.