Definition

1. Interjection:
   • An expression of disgust or revulsion: "êu ôi" is a colloquial interjection used to express strong feelings of disgust, repulsion, or horror towards something unpleasant, foul-smelling, or shocking.

Usage Examples

• Interjection:
  • Êu ôi, khiếp chưa! (Faugh! What horror!)
  • Êu ôi, cái mùi này kinh quá! (Phew! This smell is awful!)
  • Êu ôi, con gián to thế! (Ugh! That cockroach is so big!)

Advanced Usage

• "Êu ôi" is primarily used in informal, spoken Vietnamese. It conveys a visceral, immediate reaction. The tone and volume when saying it can emphasize the degree of disgust.
  • Êu ôi, nhìn mà phát ớn. (Yuck, looking at it makes me nauseous.)

Variants and Related Words

• Eo ơi / Eo ôi: Another common, similar interjection expressing surprise, dismay, or mild disgust. It is often considered slightly less strong or vulgar than "êu ôi".
  • Eo ơi, trời mưa rồi! (Oh dear, it's raining!)
• Kinh tởm (adj): Disgusting, revolting. This is a descriptive adjective, not an interjection.
  • Món ăn đó trông thật kinh tởm. (That dish looks disgusting.)

Synonyms

• Khiếp (interj): An exclamation of fear or horror, sometimes used similarly to express shock or disgust.
  • Khiếp, đáng sợ quá! (Goodness, that's so scary!)
• Ối (interj): An exclamation of surprise or sudden pain, which can sometimes overlap in contexts of shock.
  • Ối, đau quá! (Ouch, that hurts!)

Related Phrases

• Êu ôi, thôi đi: Expressing a strong desire for something unpleasant to stop.
  • Êu ôi, thôi đi, đừng nói nữa. (Ugh, stop it, don't say anymore.)

Related Idioms

• While "êu ôi" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is frequently used at the beginning of exclamatory sentences to convey a strong negative reaction to a situation described immediately after.

1. (thông tục) Faugh! phew!
   • Êu ôi, khiếp chửa!
     Faugh! what horror!