bồi hồi

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The Vietnamese word "bồi hồi" can be understood as both a verb and an adjective, and it conveys a sense of deep emotional longing or nostalgia. Here’s an easy breakdown for new learners:

Meaning:

• "Bồi hồi" describes a feeling of fretfulness or an obsessive longing for someone or something, often accompanied by a sense of nostalgia or emotional intensity. It implies a bittersweet feeling, where one may reminisce about past experiences, relationships, or moments.

Usage Instructions:

• As a verb: You can use "bồi hồi" when you talk about missing someone intensely or recalling memories that evoke strong emotions.
• As an adjective: It can be used to describe feelings of being restless or anxious due to longing.

Examples:

1. Bồi hồi nhớ lại những kỷ niệm xưa: "I fret with obsessive memories of the past." This means you are deeply nostalgic and perhaps feeling sad about those memories.
2. Tôi bồi hồi khi nghĩ về người yêu cũ: "I feel a longing when I think about my ex-lover." This expresses an intense emotional reaction to memories of a past relationship.

Advanced Usage:

• The phrase "bồi hồi trong dạ" means to have a deep emotional longing in one’s heart or soul. It emphasizes the intensity of the feeling.
• Additionally, you might hear "nhớ ai bồi hồi như đứng đống lửa, như ngồi đống than" which translates to "missing someone with an intensity like sitting on thorns." This metaphor highlights the discomfort and pain that comes with longing.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "bồi hồi," but it can be used in different contexts, such as expressing nostalgia ("bồi hồi về tuổi thơ" - longing for childhood) or in romantic contexts.

Different Meanings:

• While "bồi hồi" primarily conveys longing and nostalgia, in some contexts, it can also refer to a sense of anxiety or restlessness due to unfulfilled desires or memories.

Synonyms:

• Some synonyms for "bồi hồi" include:
  • Nhớ nhung: Meaning to miss someone dearly, often with a sense of yearning.
  • Đau đáu: This term conveys a deep, painful longing for someone or something.

Academic

verb & adj

1. Fret, to be fretty
   • thương nhớ bồi hồi trong dạ
     to fret with an obsessive longing
   • bồi hồi nhớ lại những kỷ niệm xưa
     to fret with obsessive memories of the past
   • Đói lòng ăn khế xót xa Khế chua, muối mặn, lòng ta bồi hồi
     Hungry, one had to eat carambola which gave a prickly sensation, Now the obsessive memory of the sour and salt makes one's mind
   • bổi hổi bồi hồi
     to fret intensively
   • Nhớ ai bổi hổi bồi hồi Như đứng đống lửa như ngồi đống than
     One frets intensively with an obsessive longing for one's sweetheart, It is like sitting on thorns, being on pins and needles