khấp khởi
[xəp̚˧˦ xəːj˧˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(adjective) happy without showing it, internally elated
Adjective
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Tới hôm thứ ba, mẹ đi trước, ba đứa tôi tấp tểnh, khấp khởi, nửa lo nửa vui theo sau.On Tuesday, our mom went first, the three of us limped along, internally excited, half worried, half happy, following her behind.
Đêm thứ năm, đang khấp khởi mừng vì len lách sắp tới nơi thì bị lộ.The fifth night, while silently happy because they had almost sneaked to where they needed to go, they were discovered.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “khấp khởi” mean?
(adjective) happy without showing it, internally elated
Is “khấp khởi” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.