xanh mắt
Definition
- Adjective (Idiomatic):
- To turn pale (with fear, shock, or illness): Describes a person's face becoming noticeably pale or losing its normal color due to a sudden strong emotion such as fear, shock, or due to physical sickness. It implies a visible, often dramatic, change in complexion.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Nghe tin đó, anh ta xanh mắt ngay. (Upon hearing that news, he turned pale immediately.)
- Cô ấy xanh mắt vì sốt cao. (She turned pale because of a high fever.)
- Nhìn thấy con rắn, đứa trẻ xanh mắt. (Seeing the snake, the child turned pale.)
Advanced Usage
- The idiom "xanh mắt" is almost exclusively used to describe the human face. It emphasizes a reactive, involuntary change rather than a natural skin tone.
Variants and Related Words
- Tái mặt (adj): to turn pale, to become ashen-faced. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "xanh mắt."
- Anh ấy tái mặt khi nhận được tin dữ. (He turned ashen-faced when he received the bad news.)
Synonyms
- To blanch: to become pale from shock or fear.
- To turn pale: to lose color in the face.
- To go white: to become very pale.
Related Idioms
- Xanh như tàu lá: (lit. as green as a banana leaf) an idiom describing an extremely pale, sickly, or frightened complexion.
- Sau trận ốm, nó xanh như tàu lá. (After the illness, he was as pale as a ghost.)