tít mắt
Definition
- Adjective/Adverbial Phrase:
- To have one's eyes narrowed or almost shut, typically due to a broad smile, bright light, or intense focus. It describes the physical action of the eyelids closing significantly, often conveying a strong positive emotion like joy, amusement, or contentment.
- (Vulgar/Slang) To be instantly and excessively infatuated or captivated, especially by someone's appearance, to the point of irrational behavior. This usage is colloquial and often carries a negative or mocking connotation.
Usage Examples
- Adjective/Adverbial Phrase: (The grandmother smiled with her eyes nearly shut when she saw her grandchildren.) (The glaring sunlight made him squint hard.) (That guy was instantly besotted with her from the first glance.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used with verbs like "cười" (to smile/laugh) or "lại" (to close/become) to complete the action.
- In its vulgar/slang meaning, it criticizes someone for being foolishly or overly passionate based solely on superficial attraction.
Variants and Related Words
- Nheo mắt (v): to squint (often due to light or effort to see). (He squinted to see clearly.)
Synonyms
- To squint: to partly close one's eyes.
- To be smitten: to be strongly affected by love or attraction.
- To be infatuated: to have an intense but short-lived passion.
Related Idioms
- Cười tít mắt: A common idiom meaning to smile so widely and happily that one's eyes become narrow slits. (The child grinned from ear to ear when given a present.)