tối trời
Definition
- Adjective:
- Dark (of the sky): Describes a sky that is dark due to heavy cloud cover or the absence of moonlight and stars, making the overall natural light dim.
- Gloomy (weather/atmosphere): Refers to a gloomy, overcast, or heavily shadowed condition of the sky, often implying poor visibility.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Trời đang tối trời, có lẽ sắp mưa. (The sky is dark, it might rain soon.)
- Đêm nay không trăng, tối trời quá. (There's no moon tonight; the sky is very dark.)
- Họ về nhà lúc trời tối trời. (They went home when the sky was gloomy and dark.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe a situation that is confusing, obscure, or morally dark, though this is less common.
- Thời buổi tối trời, phải cẩn thận. (In these murky/dark times, one must be careful.)
Variants and Related Words
Tối om (adj): pitch dark, very dark (can describe any space, not just the sky).
- Trong rừng tối om. (It's pitch dark in the forest.)
Trời tối (phrase): dark sky, nighttime.
- Trời tối rồi, chúng ta về thôi. (It's dark now; let's go home.)
Synonyms
- Overcast: Clouded over.
- Gloomy: Dark and dismal.
- Murky: Dark and gloomy, especially due to mist or clouds.
Related Idioms
- Trời tối đất: Emphasizes extreme darkness, meaning "pitch dark" or "completely dark."
- Khu vực đó không có đèn, trời tối đất. (That area has no lights; it's pitch dark.)