to nhỏ
Definition
Adjective:
- Whispered, hushed, confidential: Describes speech that is very quiet and low in volume, typically intended to be heard only by a specific person or a small group, often to share secrets or private matters.
Verb (to "to nhỏ"):
- To whisper, to talk in hushed tones: The act of speaking very softly and privately with someone, often implying the sharing of confidential or secretive information.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Họ nói chuyện với giọng to nhỏ trong thư viện. (They spoke in hushed tones in the library.)
- Tôi nghe thấy những lời to nhỏ từ phòng bên cạnh. (I heard whispered words from the next room.)
Verb:
- Hai đứa trẻ đang to nhỏ với nhau về kế hoạch bất ngờ. (The two children are whispering to each other about the surprise plan.)
- Đừng to nhỏ ở đó, nói cho mọi người cùng nghe đi. (Don't whisper over there; say it so everyone can hear.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies an intimate, secretive, or conspiratorial context. It is not merely about low volume but about the private nature of the communication.
- It can be used as a compound verb "nói to nói nhỏ" (to talk loudly and softly), which describes discussing something back and forth, often in a persuasive or argumentative manner, though this is a related idiom, not the core meaning of "to nhỏ" itself.
Variants and Related Words
- Thì thầm (v): to whisper (a more common, direct synonym for the action).
- Nói khẽ (v): to speak softly.
- Nói nhỏ (v): to speak in a low voice.
Synonyms
- Whisper: to speak very softly.
- Mutter: to murmur, often in a low voice.
- Confidential talk: private conversation.
Related Idioms
- Nói to nói nhỏ: To discuss or argue persistently, trying to persuade someone by talking in various tones.
- Cô ấy nói to nói nhỏ mãi mới thuyết phục được anh ta. (She talked persuasively for a long time before convincing him.)