Definition

Verb: - To make soft, intermittent crying sounds, often while trying to suppress tears; to whimper or sniffle, typically due to sadness, pain, or self-pity.

Usage

The verb 'xụt xùi' describes the action of crying quietly with sniffles. It is often used to depict someone, especially a child, crying in a subdued, pitiful manner. - Đứa trẻ ngồi xụt xùi một mình trong góc phòng. (The child sat whimpering alone in the corner of the room.) - Nghe tin buồn, cô ấy chỉ biết xụt xùi khóc. (Upon hearing the sad news, she could only whimper and cry.)

Advanced Usage

• 'vừa xụt xùi vừa kể': to narrate something while whimpering.
  • Cậu bé vừa xụt xùi vừa kể lại chuyện bị bạn bắt nạt. (The boy recounted the story of being bullied while whimpering.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sụt sịt (verb): A near-synonym meaning to sniffle, often used interchangeably with 'xụt xùi' but can sometimes imply a slightly less emotional state, like having a runny nose.
  • Cô bé sụt sịt vì bị cảm lạnh. (The little girl is sniffling because she has a cold.)

Synonyms

• Nức nở (verb): To sob; implies crying with convulsive breaths, which is often louder and more intense than 'xụt xùi'.
• Thút thít (verb): To whimper or whine softly; very similar in meaning and usage to 'xụt xùi'.

Related Idioms

• Mặt mày xụt xùi: An idiom describing a face wet with tears and a pitiful, crying expression.
  • Sau trận mắng, nó ra về với mặt mày xụt xùi. (After the scolding, he left with a tear-streaked, whimpering face.)

verb

1. whimper