phì phà
[fi˨˩ faː˨˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to inhale and exhale tobacco smoke with delight
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
[…] những người đàn ông xếp bằng ngồi trên mui ghe vấn những điếu thuốc to đùng bằng đầu ngón chân cái, phì phà nhả khói lên trời.[…] the men sat cross-legged on the boat's roof and rolled enormous cigarettes big as a big toe, delightedly puffing and blowing smoke into the sky.
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 “phì phà” mean?
(verb) to inhale and exhale tobacco smoke with delight
Is “phì phà” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.