Definition

1. Adjective:

   • White: The most common meaning of "trắng" refers to the color of snow, milk, or light. It is the color at one end of the spectrum of visible light.
   • Clear / Pure: "Trắng" can describe something that is unadulterated, plain, or without added elements, such as a clear liquid or an unprinted page.
   • Empty / Having Nothing: It describes a state of complete absence, lack, or loss, often of possessions or results.
   • Frank / Blunt: Used to describe speech that is direct, plain, and leaves nothing hidden.
   • Unscored / Blank: In games or tests, it indicates a score of zero or a section left unanswered.

2. Noun (in specific contexts):

   • A white note (music): In music theory, a note with the time value of a half note (minim).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy mặc một chiếc váy trắng. (She is wearing a white dress.)
  • Anh ấy thích uống rượu vang trắng. (He likes to drink white wine.)
  • Sau trận lụt, nhiều người trở về tay trắng. (After the flood, many people returned empty-handed.)
  • Hãy nói trắng ra điều anh nghĩ. (Please speak frankly about what you think.)
  • Tờ giấy này để trắng. (This paper is left blank.)

Advanced Usage

• "mất trắng": to lose everything.

  • Vụ đầu tư thất bại khiến họ mất trắng. (The failed investment caused them to lose everything.)

• "thức trắng đêm": to stay awake the whole night.

  • Cô ấy thức trắng đêm để ôn thi. (She stayed awake all night to study for the exam.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trắng bệch (adj): deathly white, pale white (often due to fear or illness).

  • Mặt cô ấy tái đi trắng bệch. (Her face turned deathly pale.)

• Trắng trợn (adj): brazen, blatant, shameless.

  • Đó là một lời nói dối trắng trợn. (That is a blatant lie.)

• Bạch (adj, literary): white (a Sino-Vietnamese word, often used in formal or compound terms, e.g., bạch cầu - white blood cell).

Synonyms

• White: alabaster, ivory, snowy (for color).
• Clear: plain, unadulterated.
• Empty: destitute, penniless.
• Frank: blunt, straightforward, candid.

Related Idioms

• Tay trắng làm nên: to build success from nothing.

  • Ông ấy là một tấm gương tay trắng làm nên. (He is an example of someone who built success from scratch.)

• Đen như mực, trắng như giấy: (as clear as) black is ink and white is paper; meaning something is very clear and obvious.

  • Sự thật đen trắng rõ ràng. (The truth is as clear as black and white.)

• Giấy trắng mực đen: written in black ink on white paper; referring to official, undeniable documents or proof.

  • Có giấy trắng mực đen, không thể chối cãi. (With it in black and white, you cannot deny it.)

adj

1. white clear