Definition

1. Onomatopoeic Adjective: "Vi vút" is a word that imitates a high-pitched, sharp, whistling or whizzing sound, typically produced by something moving very fast through the air. It describes the sound itself or the state of producing such a sound.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Gió thổi vi vút qua khe cửa. (The wind whistled shrilly through the door crack.)
  • Những viên đạn bay vi vút trên đầu. (Bullets whizzed with a sharp whistle overhead.)
  • Tiếng còi tàu vang lên vi vút trong đêm. (The train whistle sounded piercingly in the night.)

Advanced Usage

• Describing Speed and Sound: "Vi vút" often combines the sense of high speed with the resulting sharp sound. It is not used for slow or heavy sounds.
  • Chiếc xe máy phóng đi vi vút. (The motorbike zoomed away with a whizzing sound.)
• Figurative Use for Wind: It is very commonly used to describe a strong, cold, and shrill wind.
  • Trời đông, gió bấc thổi vi vút. (In winter, the north wind blows with a piercing whistle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vút (verb): To dart, to streak, to move swiftly and often with a slight whistling sound. It focuses more on the visual speed than the sound.
  • Con chim vút lên trời cao. (The bird darted up into the sky.)
• Rít (onomatopoeic verb/adjective): To screech, to squeal (like tires or a harsh, grating sound). It describes a different, often more grating, quality of sound than "vi vút".
  • Bánh xe rít lên trên mặt đường. (The tires screeched on the road surface.)

Synonyms

• Réo (onomatopoeic verb/adjective): To whiz, to whistle (often with a sense of a singing or humming sound). Can be similar but sometimes implies a more continuous or singing tone.
  • Đạn bay réo. (Bullets whizzed.)
• Xé gió (verb phrase): To tear through the wind. Emphasizes the force and speed of movement.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Gió vi vút: A common collocation meaning "a shrilly whistling wind".
  • Ngoài trời gió vi vút, lạnh buốt. (Outside, the wind whistled shrilly, bitterly cold.)

adj

1. whizzing