tròn xoe
Definition
- Adjective:
- Perfectly round and wide open: Describes eyes that are opened very wide, typically in a circular shape, due to surprise, astonishment, fear, or intense curiosity.
- Completely round: Can describe any small object that is perfectly circular in shape.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô bé mắt tròn xoe vì ngạc nhiên. (The little girl's eyes were perfectly round with surprise.)
- Những viên bi thủy tinh tròn xoe. (The glass marbles are perfectly round.)
- Đứa trẻ nhìn tròn xoe vào màn hình. (The child stared wide-eyed at the screen.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is most idiomatically and commonly used to describe the eyes. When used for objects, it emphasizes a notable, often cute or striking, degree of roundness.
Variants and Related Words
Tròn (adj): round, circular. This is the base adjective.
- Một cái bàn tròn. (A round table.)
Mắt tròn mắt dẹt (idiomatic expression): To be wide-eyed with astonishment or disbelief.
- Nghe tin ấy, nó đứng mắt tròn mắt dẹt. (Hearing that news, he stood there utterly astonished.)
Synonyms
- Wide-eyed: Having the eyes wide open, especially with surprise.
- Saucer-eyed: Having eyes that are very large and round, like saucers.
- Perfectly round: Exactly circular in shape.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tròn xoe mắt: This is the most common collocation, functioning as a set phrase meaning "to stare with wide, round eyes."
- Cậu bé tròn xoe mắt nhìn ảo thuật gia. (The boy stared wide-eyed at the magician.)