xàu
Definition
- Adjective:
- Wilted; withered; limp: Describes plants, leaves, or vegetables that have lost their freshness, firmness, and vitality, often due to lack of water or heat.
- Sullen; gloomy; downcast: Describes a person's facial expression that appears sad, disappointed, or sulky, often showing a lack of spirit or enthusiasm.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (describing plants):
- Rau để lâu ngày đã bị xàu. (The vegetables left for a long time have wilted.)
- Những bông hoa này trông hơi xàu. (These flowers look a bit withered.)
- Adjective (describing facial expression):
- Nghe tin đó, mặt anh ta xàu hẳn đi. (Hearing that news, his face fell completely.)
- Sao trông mặt con xàu thế? (Why do you look so sullen?)
Advanced Usage
- The word "xàu" is often used in Southern Vietnamese dialects. In Northern Vietnamese, "héo" is more common for describing wilted plants, and "buồn" or "ủ rũ" for a sad expression.
- It can describe something that has lost its intended form or vigor, extending beyond plants to metaphorically describe spirits or moods.
Variants and Related Words
- Xàu xì (adj): A reinforced form meaning very wilted or very sullen.
- Lá cây xàu xì vì nắng. (The leaves are very withered because of the sun.)
- Héo (adj): The more standard Northern Vietnamese term for wilted or withered (of plants).
Synonyms
- Wilted: (for plants) Lacking freshness, drooping.
- Sullen: (for expression) Bad-tempered, gloomy, and silent.
- Downcast: (for expression) Looking sad or discouraged.
Related Idioms
- Mặt xàu như bị (lit. face as sullen as...): An informal simile emphasizing a very gloomy or displeased facial expression.
- Cậu bé mặt xàu như bị vì không được đi chơi. (The boy's face was very sullen because he couldn't go out to play.)