hồ hởi

Vietnamese

Etymology

Both elements are now obscure by themselves, but the first element is still commonly seen in tha hồ, and the second element is attested in hởi dạ and hởi lòng, compounds that are now no longer common.

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ho˨˩ həːj˧˩]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [how˦˩ həːj˧˨]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [how˨˩ həːj˨˩˦]

Adjective

hồ hởi

feeling happy, excited, or enthusiastic; cheerful
- 2016, Trầm Hương, Trong cơn lốc xoáy, part I, NXB Phụ nữ, page 8:
  Cha Thi rất vui, lấy ra bức ảnh, hồ hởi nói: "Bà nhìn bức hình này xem. Có tôi và Cha Bình, có bà trong bức ảnh này không?".
  Father Thi was very glad; he produced a picture and cheerfully said, "Have a look at this picture. It has me and Father Bình; are you in it?"