tỏ vẻ
Definition
- Verb:
- To show, to display, to exhibit: To deliberately make a particular attitude, emotion, or quality outwardly visible through one's expression, manner, or behavior.
- To appear, to seem, to act as if: To give the impression or pretense of being in a certain state or having a certain feeling, sometimes without genuine internal sentiment.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy tỏ vẻ không hài lòng với kết quả. (She showed her dissatisfaction with the result.)
- Anh ấy gật đầu tỏ vẻ đồng ý. (He nodded, showing his agreement.)
- Đừng tỏ vẻ ta đây biết mọi thứ. (Don't act as if you know everything.)
Advanced Usage
"tỏ vẻ mặt": to show one's expression/face. This is a less common variant emphasizing facial expression.
- Anh ấy tỏ vẻ mặt nghiêm nghị. (He showed a solemn expression.)
"tỏ vẻ khinh bỉ": to show contempt, to display scorn.
- Hắn tỏ vẻ khinh bỉ trước lời đề nghị. (He showed contempt for the proposal.)
Variants and Related Words
Tỏ ra (v): to show, to prove to be. Often used interchangeably with "tỏ vẻ," but "tỏ ra" can imply a more consequential or proven manifestation.
- Cô ấy tỏ ra là một nhà lãnh đạo tài năng. (She proved to be a talented leader.)
Làm ra vẻ (v): to pretend, to put on an act. Often carries a stronger connotation of pretense than "tỏ vẻ."
- Nó làm ra vẻ chăm chỉ khi sếp đến. (He pretended to be hardworking when the boss came.)
Synonyms
- Display: to show or make evident.
- Demonstrate: to show clearly by one's actions or feelings.
- Affect: to put on a pretense of; to feign.
- Seem: to give the impression of being.
Related Idioms
Tỏ vẻ ta đây: to put on airs; to act in a showy or pretentious manner to impress others.
- Anh chàng mới giàu luôn tỏ vẻ ta đây. (The newly rich guy always puts on airs.)
Tỏ vẻ mặt lạnh như tiền: to have a cold, expressionless face (like a coin); to appear cold and unfeeling.
- Bà ấy tỏ vẻ mặt lạnh như tiền khi nghe tin. (She showed a face as cold as a coin upon hearing the news.)
verb
-
to show, to prove to be, to appear
