tôi tối
Definition
Adjective:
- Very dark / pitch-dark: Describes a state of extreme darkness, where there is almost no light.
- Dim / poorly lit: Describes a space or area that is insufficiently illuminated.
Adverb:
- In a very dark manner: To do something in conditions of deep darkness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Căn phòng không có cửa sổ nên tôi tối. (The room has no windows, so it is pitch-dark.)
- Đường hầm này tôi tối và đáng sợ. (This tunnel is very dark and scary.)
- Adverb:
- Chúng tôi phải đi lại tôi tối trong căn nhà hoang. (We had to move around in deep darkness inside the abandoned house.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "tôi tối" is an intensive form of the adjective "tối" (dark). It is used for emphasis to describe a greater degree of darkness.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe a situation that is gloomy, hopeless, or morally obscure, though this is less common.
Variants and Related Words
- Tối (adj): dark.
- Trời bắt đầu tối. (It's starting to get dark.)
- Tối om (adj): pitch-black, another intensive form similar to "tôi tối".
- Ngoài trời tối om. (It's pitch-black outside.)
Synonyms
- Pitch-dark: completely dark.
- Gloomy: dim and dark, often causing depression.
- Murky: dark and gloomy, especially due to mist or dirt.
Notes on Usage
- "Tôi tối" is primarily used in descriptive contexts. It is less common in formal writing and more frequent in spoken or literary Vietnamese.
- The reference "xem tối" indicates that the core meaning is directly related to and an intensified version of "tối".