Definition

1. Adjective/Verb (used as a predicate adjective or intransitive verb):
   • To flush, to turn bright red suddenly: Describes a sudden, intense reddening of the face or skin, typically due to a strong emotion such as shame, shyness, embarrassment, anger, or physical causes like fever or heat.
   • To flare up, to blaze up suddenly: Describes a sudden, intense increase in the brightness and intensity of a fire or light.

Usage Examples

• Describing a physical reaction (flush):

  • Cô ấy xấu hổ đến nỗi mặt đỏ bừng. (She was so ashamed that her face flushed.)
  • Đứa trẻ sốt cao, hai má đỏ bừng. (The child had a high fever, with cheeks flushed bright red.)

• Describing a fire or light (flare up):

  • Ngọn lửa đột nhiên đỏ bừng lên trong đêm. (The flame suddenly flared up in the night.)
  • Ánh đèn đỏ bừng một cái rồi tắt hẳn. (The light flared up brightly once and then went out completely.)

Advanced Usage

• "đỏ bừng mặt": to flush/blush (specifically referring to the face).

  • Nghe lời chê bai, anh ta đỏ bừng mặt. (Hearing the criticism, he flushed.)

• "đỏ bừng lên": to flare up, to flush (emphasizing the suddenness).

  • Cơn giận khiến cô đỏ bừng lên. (Anger made her flush.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đỏ ửng (adj): To be reddish, to have a red tinge (often less intense and more sustained than "đỏ bừng").

  • Má cô ấy đỏ ửng vì lạnh. (Her cheeks were reddish from the cold.)

• Bừng bừng (adj): Describes a state of burning intensely or a feeling of great heat (can be used figuratively for anger).

  • Lửa cháy bừng bừng. (The fire burned fiercely.)

Synonyms

• Thẹn đỏ mặt: To blush (specifically from shyness or shame).
• Bốc cháy dữ dội: To blaze up violently (for fire).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Concepts)

• Làm cho ai đỏ bừng mặt: To make someone flush/blush.
  • Câu nói đùa của anh ấy làm cô gái trẻ đỏ bừng mặt. (His joke made the young girl blush.)

Related Idioms

• Nóng mặt đỏ bừng: To be hot and flushed (can indicate anger or physical heat).
  • Tranh cãi khiến hai người nóng mặt đỏ bừng. (The argument made the two of them hot and flushed with anger.)

1. Flare up
   • Lửa đỏ bừng
     The fire flared up
2. Flush, flush up (with shame, out of shyness...)
   • Tính hay thẹn, cứ gặp đàn ông là mặt đỏ bừng
     Her shyness made her flush [up] whenever she came across a man