tái xanh
Definition
- Adjective:
- Livid; deathly pale; ashen: Describes a person's complexion, particularly of the face, that has turned an unnatural pale, greenish, or bluish-white color due to extreme fear, shock, illness, or cold.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Nghe tin dữ, mặt anh ấy tái xanh. (Upon hearing the bad news, his face turned livid.)
- Đứa trẻ sốt cao, người tái xanh. (The child had a high fever and looked deathly pale.)
- Cô ấy sợ đến mức tái xanh mặt. (She was so scared she went ashen.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase "tái xanh mặt" (face turns livid) is a very common collocation emphasizing the change in facial color due to a sudden, intense emotion or physical state.
Variants and Related Words
- Tái mét (adj): Extremely pale, ashen. A near-synonym often used interchangeably with "tái xanh."
- Mặt cô ấy tái mét khi nhìn thấy máu. (Her face went ashen when she saw blood.)
Synonyms
- Livid: Discolored, bluish-pale, especially from cold, injury, or emotion.
- Ashen / Ashy: Pale gray in color, like ashes; often from illness or fear.
- Pallid / Deathly pale: Unnaturally or unhealthily pale.
- Ghastly pale: Pale in a shocking or frightening way.
Related Idioms
- Sợ tái xanh mặt: To be scared stiff; to be frightened to the point of turning pale.
- Câu chuyện ma làm lũ trẻ sợ tái xanh mặt. (The ghost story made the children scared stiff.)