Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Faintly audible; distant and indistinct (of sound): Describes a sound, especially a voice or noise, that is heard from far away or through an obstruction, making it unclear and difficult to discern precisely.
   • Echoing faintly; carrying a distant resonance: Suggests a sound that seems to linger or reverberate softly, often creating an atmospheric or haunting impression.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Từ trong rừng sâu, văng vẳng tiếng chuông chùa. (From deep in the forest, the faint sound of a temple bell could be heard.)
  • Tôi nghe văng vẳng có tiếng người cãi nhau. (I faintly heard the sound of people arguing.)
  • Chỉ còn văng vẳng bài hát cũ trong ký ức. (Only the faint echo of an old song remains in my memory.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to evoke mood, memory, or a sense of distance and isolation. It implies the listener must strain to hear or interpret the sound.

Variants and Related Words

• Vẳng (v): To be faintly heard; to carry from a distance.
  • Tiếng hát vẳng đến từ căn nhà bên. (The singing drifted faintly from the house next door.)

Synonyms

• Faint: (of a sound) barely perceptible.
• Distant: far away in space or time.
• Indistinct: not clear or sharply defined.

Related Idioms

• Văng vẳng bên tai: A phrase meaning a sound or words are faintly ringing in one's ears, often used for a memory or something someone said.
  • Lời mẹ dặn vẫn văng vẳng bên tai. (My mother's advice still faintly rings in my ears.)