Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To have one's voice break: The primary meaning refers to the natural, often sudden, change in a person's voice, typically during puberty, when it becomes deeper and more unstable.
   • To lose one's voice (from strain): It can also describe the temporary hoarseness or loss of vocal clarity resulting from overuse, such as shouting, singing too much, or illness.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Con trai tôi đang vỡ giọng. (My son's voice is breaking.)
  • Cô ấy hát quá nhiều và bị vỡ giọng. (She sang too much and lost her voice.)
  • Giọng nói của nam diễn viên đó bắt đầu vỡ giọng khi anh ấy 14 tuổi. (That actor's voice began to break when he was 14.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used to describe an unavoidable, natural biological process in adolescents. It carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation when referring to hoarseness from strain.

Variants and Related Words

• Vỡ tiếng (verb phrase): A synonymous phrase with identical meaning and usage.
  • Nó nói to quá nên bị vỡ tiếng. (He spoke too loudly so his voice broke.)

Synonyms

• To break (voice): For the pubertal change.
• To become hoarse: For losing vocal clarity.
• To lose one's voice: For temporary vocal loss.

Related Idioms

• While "vỡ giọng" itself is a set phrase, it is sometimes used figuratively to imply a significant, noticeable change in the tone or quality of something, though this is less common.
  • Sự thất vọng đã khiến giọng nói của ông ấy như vỡ giọng. (The disappointment made his voice seem to break.)