xoẹt
Definition
- Onomatopoeia:
- A sharp, swishing, or slicing sound: Represents the brief, crisp sound produced by a swift, cutting action, such as scissors snipping, a blade slicing through air, or something moving very fast with a light, sharp friction noise.
- In an instant / in a flash: Used colloquially to describe something happening extremely quickly, in a split second.
Usage Examples
- Onomatopoeia:
- Tiếng kéo cắt vải xoẹt một cái. (The scissors went snip as they cut the cloth.)
- Chiếc xe máy phóng qua xoẹt một tiếng. (The motorbike zoomed past with a whoosh.)
- Adverb (colloquial):
- Anh ấy xoẹt một cái đã đến trước cửa. (He was at the door in a flash.)
- Làm cái này xoẹt cái là xong. (This will be finished in an instant.)
Advanced Usage
- "xoèn xoẹt": A reduplicated form indicating repeated or continuous sharp, swishing, or slicing sounds.
- Máy cưa kêu xoèn xoẹt. (The saw made a repeated whirring/zinging sound.)
Variants and Related Words
- Xoẹt xoẹt (onomatopoeia): Emphasizes the sound happening in quick succession.
- Xoèn xoẹt (onomatopoeia): As above, indicates a series of such sharp, swift sounds.
Synonyms
- Swish: A light, brushing or slicing sound.
- Zip: A short, sharp sound of something moving fast.
- Snip: A quick, cutting sound.
- Instantly: Happening immediately (for the adverbial sense).
Related Idioms
- Xoẹt cái đến nơi: To arrive in a flash.
- Chỉ cần gọi là nó xoẹt cái đến nơi. (Just call and he'll be here in a jiffy.)
- Xoẹt cái xong ngay: To be finished in an instant.
- Công việc xoẹt cái xong ngay. (The task was finished in no time.)