Definition

1. Onomatopoeia (Từ tượng thanh):
   • A word that imitates a continuous, soft, hissing, whirring, or buzzing sound, often produced by machinery, insects, or friction. It evokes a sound that is steady and somewhat sibilant.

Usage Examples

• Onomatopoeia:
  • Máy cưa chạy xè xè. (The mechanical saw runs with a whirring sound.)
  • Tiếng ve kêu xè xè trong buổi trưa hè. (The cicadas chirp with a buzzing sound on the summer afternoon.)
  • Bánh xe quay xè xè trên đường ray. (The wheel turned with a hissing sound on the rail.)

Advanced Usage

• "xè xè" as descriptive adverb: Can function adverbially to describe the manner of a sound.
  • Chiếc quạt cũ kêu xè xè. (The old fan made a whirring noise.)

Variants and Related Words

• Xì xì (onomatopoeia): Often describes a softer, more secretive or whispering hiss, like gas escaping or people whispering.
• Vè vè (onomatopoeia): Typically describes a higher-pitched, more vibrant buzzing or whirring sound, like a mosquito or a small motor.
• Rè rè (onomatopoeia): Describes a grating, rasping, or hoarse sound.

Synonyms

• Whirr: A low, continuous, regular sound, like that of a machine.
• Buzz: A continuous, humming sound.
• Hiss: A sharp, sibilant sound like that of steam or air escaping.

Related Idioms

• Nói xè xè: To speak in a persistent, grating, or whining tone (less common idiom).
  • Đừng nói xè xè bên tai tôi nữa. (Stop whining in my ear.)