Definition

1. Adjective (often used post-verbally):
   • Wide open, gaping open: Describes something (like a door, window, or hole) that is opened excessively, fully, or carelessly, creating a large, conspicuous, and often unsightly opening. It implies an improper or excessive degree of openness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cánh cửa để toang hoác, gió lùa vào nhà. (The door was left wide open, and the wind blew into the house.)
  • Chiếc túi bị rách toang hoác. (The bag was torn wide open.)
  • Anh ta há miệng toang hoác vì ngạc nhiên. (He stood with his mouth gaping open in surprise.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is primarily used in spoken, colloquial Vietnamese (khẩu ngữ). It often carries a negative connotation of carelessness, neglect, or an unpleasant visual effect.
• It frequently follows verbs like mở (to open), để (to leave), há (to gape), or thủng (to be punctured) to emphasize the resulting state.

Variants and Related Words

• Toang (adj): A shorter, more abrupt form with a similar meaning of being wide open or broken open, sometimes implying ruin (e.g., - shattered to pieces).
• Hoác: This element often combines with other adjectives (e.g., - very empty) to intensify the meaning, suggesting a stark, excessive state.

Synonyms

• Wide open: Fully open.
• Gaping: Wide open, often describing a hole or mouth.
• Yawning: Like a deep, wide opening (e.g., a yawning chasm).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mở toang hoác: To fling/open something wide.
  • Đừng mở cửa sổ toang hoác như thế. (Don't open the window so wide.)
• Thủng toang hoác: To have a gaping hole.
  • Lốp xe bị thủng toang hoác. (The tire has a gaping hole in it.)

adj

1. wide open