ặc
Definition
Onomatopoeia / Interjection:
- A sound representing a sudden, guttural noise, often associated with choking, gagging, vomiting, or being stifled.
- A sound representing a heavy, labored, or choked utterance, such as a stifled cry or grunt.
Verb (colloquial):
- To gag, choke, or retch; to make the sound of vomiting or struggling to breathe.
- To vomit or spit up, especially used for babies.
Usage Examples
Onomatopoeia:
- Nó kêu "ặc" một tiếng rồi ngã xuống. (He made a "gurk" sound and then fell down.)
- Tiếng ặc ặc vang lên từ phòng bên. (The sound of repeated gagging came from the next room.)
Verb:
- Em bé mới bú no xong đã ặc sữa ra. (The baby just finished feeding and then spit up the milk.)
- Anh ta bị nghẹn, ặc lên mấy tiếng. (He choked and gagged several times.)
Advanced Usage
"ằng ặc": A reduplicated form intensifying the sound, indicating continuous, repeated gagging or choking noises.
- Cô ấy ho ằng ặc cả đêm. (She coughed with heavy, choking sounds all night.)
"ặc sữa": A specific phrase meaning for a baby to spit up or vomit milk.
- Trẻ sơ sinh hay bị ặc sữa. (Newborns often spit up milk.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nôn (v): The standard verb for "to vomit."
- Oẹ (onomatopoeia): Another sound for retching or vomiting, similar to "ặc."
Synonyms
- Gag: To choke or retch.
- Retch: To make the sound and motion of vomiting.
- Spit up: To bring up small amounts of stomach contents (especially for infants).
Related Idioms
Nói ặc ặc: To speak in a choked, strained, or guttural voice.
- Giận quá, ông ấy nói ặc ặc. (He was so angry he spoke in a choked voice.)
Cười ặc ặc: To laugh in a loud, choked, or guffawing manner.
- Nghe chuyện cười, cả bàn cười ặc ặc. (Hearing the joke, the whole table guffawed.)