thấp tho
Definition
- Verb:
- To appear and disappear intermittently; to be faintly or intermittently visible: The primary meaning of "thấp tho" describes something that is glimpsed briefly, flickers in and out of sight, or is seen indistinctly and intermittently.
- To bob up and down; to be tossed about: Used to describe an object, like a boat, moving up and down on waves, appearing and disappearing from view.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Bóng người thấp tho sau những tán cây. (A figure appeared and disappeared behind the tree canopies.)
- Con thuyền thấp tho trên mặt sóng. (The boat bobbed up and down on the wave surface.)
- Ánh đèn thấp tho trong sương mù. (The light flickered faintly in the fog.)
Advanced Usage
- "thấp thoáng": A common variant with a very similar meaning, often implying a fleeting, elusive, or hazy appearance.
- Mái chùa thấp thoáng sau rặng tre. (The pagoda roof was faintly visible behind the bamboo grove.)
Variants and Related Words
- Thập thò (v): A near-synonym meaning to peer furtively, to appear and hide shyly or cautiously.
- Đứa trẻ thập thò sau cánh cửa. (The child peeked shyly from behind the door.)
Synonyms
- To flicker: To appear unsteadily, like a light.
- To loom: To appear indistinctly and often threateningly.
- To bob: To move up and down on water.
Related Idioms
- Thấp tho bóng người: Describes the intermittent sight of a human figure, often creating a mysterious or poetic atmosphere.
- Trong khu vườn hoang, thấp tho bóng người. (In the deserted garden, figures were glimpsed intermittently.)