xanh xao hốc hác
Definition
- Adjective phrase:
- Pale and haggard: Describes a person's face or appearance as unnaturally pale, wan, or lacking healthy color, combined with being gaunt, hollow-cheeked, and showing signs of exhaustion, illness, or severe worry.
Usage Examples
- Adjective phrase:
- Sau trận ốm nặng, anh ấy trông xanh xao hốc hác. (After the serious illness, he looked pale and haggard.)
- Khuôn mặt xanh xao hốc hác của cô ấy khiến mọi người lo lắng. (Her pale and haggard face made everyone worried.)
Advanced Usage
- This phrase is often used to intensify the description of poor health or extreme fatigue, creating a more vivid image than using either "xanh xao" or "hốc hác" alone. It is typically applied to describe facial appearance.
Variants and Related Words
- Xanh xao (adj): pale, pallid, wan (primarily describing lack of healthy skin color).
- Hốc hác (adj): haggard, gaunt, drawn (primarily describing sunken features from tiredness or sickness).
Synonyms
- Pale and gaunt
- Wan and haggard
- Pallid and drawn
Related Idioms
- While "xanh xao hốc hác" itself is a descriptive phrase, it is commonly used in fixed conjunction. There is no direct idiomatic equivalent beyond this pairing.
