vun vút
Definition
- Adjective (descriptive onomatopoeia):
- Whizzing, whistling, whooshing: Describes a very fast, continuous, and often high-pitched sound produced by an object moving swiftly through the air.
- Extremely fast, at great speed: Describes the visual perception or sensation of something moving with incredible velocity.
Usage Examples
- Describing sound:
- Viên đạn bay vun vút qua đầu. (The bullet whizzed past his head.)
- Gió thổi vun vút ngoài cửa sổ. (The wind whistled whooshingly outside the window.)
- Describing speed:
- Chiếc xe máy lao đi vun vút. (The motorbike sped away at a tremendous speed.)
- Thời gian trôi qua vun vút. (Time flies by in a flash.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used in a reduplicative form ("vun vút") to intensify the sense of continuous, unbroken speed or sound. The single word "vút" can imply a single, swift motion, while "vun vút" suggests a sustained, rapid action.
Variants and Related Words
- Vút (verb): to dart, to swoop, to soar swiftly.
- Con chim vút lên trời cao. (The bird soared swiftly into the sky.)
- Vùn vụt (adjective): a less common variant with a similar meaning of great speed.
Synonyms
- Whizzing: making a continuous, high-pitched sound while moving fast.
- Streaking: moving very rapidly, leaving a visual impression of a line.
- At breakneck speed: moving extremely fast.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Nhanh như vun vút: As fast as a whizz; meaning extremely quick.
- Cậu bé chạy nhanh như vun vút. (The boy ran as fast as a whizz.)