Definition

Verb: - To burst out crying: To suddenly start crying loudly and uncontrollably, often due to a strong, overwhelming emotion such as surprise, sadness, joy, or relief.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nghe tin buồn, cô ấy òa khóc. (Upon hearing the sad news, she burst out crying.)
  • Đứa trẻ vấp ngã và òa lên. (The child tripped and fell and burst out sobbing.)
  • Khi gặp lại mẹ sau nhiều năm, nó òa khóc nức nở. (When she met her mother again after many years, she burst into tears.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "òa" is almost exclusively used in conjunction with verbs for crying or laughing to depict a sudden, explosive onset of that action. It is rarely used alone.
  • "òa khóc": to burst into tears.
  • "òa cười": to burst out laughing (less common, but possible in contexts of sudden, overwhelming joy or hilarity).

Variants and Related Words

• Ùa (verb): To rush or pour out (e.g., of people, water). While related in sound and the sense of a sudden outpouring, "ùa" is not used for emotional expression like "òa".
• Ào (verb): To surge, to rush. Similar to "ùa", it describes a sudden, forceful movement but not specifically crying.

Synonyms

• Burst out crying: To begin crying suddenly and loudly.
• Break down in tears: To be overcome by emotion and start crying.

Related Idioms

• Òa lên khóc: An emphatic form of "òa khóc", meaning to suddenly let out a loud cry.
  • Cậu bé òa lên khóc khi không tìm thấy mẹ trong siêu thị. (The little boy burst out crying when he couldn't find his mother in the supermarket.)

verb

1. to burst out crying