Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Bright, clear, shining: Describes a light source, especially the moon or a lamp, that emits strong, clear illumination.
   • Clear, sharp (of senses): Describes the senses, particularly of an elderly person, that remain acute and perceptive.

2. Verb:

   • To express, to show, to manifest: To make one's feelings, thoughts, gratitude, or attitude known to others.
   • To understand clearly, to be aware of: To know or comprehend something thoroughly.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Trăng đêm nay rất tỏ. (The moon is very bright tonight.)
  • Đèn dầu này tỏ hơn đèn điện. (This oil lamp shines brighter than the electric light.)
  • Cụ già 90 tuổi nhưng mắt vẫn còn tỏ. (The 90-year-old elder's eyes are still sharp.)

• Verb:

  • Cô ấy tỏ lòng biết ơn chân thành. (She expressed her sincere gratitude.)
  • Anh ấy tỏ thái độ không đồng tình. (He showed a disapproving attitude.)
  • Tôi chưa tỏ hết sự việc. (I do not yet fully understand the matter.)

Advanced Usage

• "tỏ ra": to appear, to seem, to act in a way that shows a particular quality.

  • Anh ấy tỏ ra rất tự tin trong cuộc phỏng vấn. (He appeared very confident in the interview.)

• "tỏ tình": to confess one's love, to declare love.

  • Chàng trai tỏ tình với cô gái dưới ánh trăng. (The young man declared his love to the girl under the moonlight.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tỏa sáng (v): to shine, to radiate light.

  • Mặt trời tỏa sáng rực rỡ. (The sun shines brilliantly.)

• Tỏ rõ (v): to show clearly, to make evident.

  • Báo cáo tỏ rõ nguyên nhân thất bại. (The report clearly shows the cause of the failure.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: bright, clear, luminous, sharp.
• Verb: express, show, demonstrate, reveal, comprehend, understand.

Related Idioms

• Trong nhà chưa tỏ, ngoài ngõ đã hay: Literally "Inside the house, it's not yet clear; outside the alley, it's already known." Means a secret is more widely known by outsiders than by those closely involved.

  • Chuyện của họ đúng là trong nhà chưa tỏ, ngoài ngõ đã hay. (Their affair is a case of the family not knowing while the whole neighborhood is already aware.)

• Tỏ mặt biết tên: To know someone's face and name well; to be familiar with someone.

  • Tôi với hắn đã tỏ mặt biết tên từ lâu. (I have known him well for a long time.)

adj

1. shining, bright

verb

1. to express, to show