Definition

1. Verb:

   • To possess (spiritually): Refers to a spirit, ghost, or demon taking control of a person's body or mind.
   • To annoy, to pester, to bother: To disturb or worry someone persistently.
   • To darken, to stain, to obscure: To make something dirty, dim, or less clear by covering it or leaving a mark.

2. Noun:

   • A thick fish soup: A traditional Vietnamese dish where a whole fish is simmered with herbs and vegetables.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to possess):
  • Chắc là hắn bị quỷ ám. (He's probably possessed by a devil.)
• Verb (to annoy):
  • Đừng ám bố mày nữa. (Stop annoying your father.)
• Verb (to darken):
  • Bầu trời bị mây đen ám. (The sky is darkened by black clouds.)
  • Tường ám khói. (The wall is stained/blackened by smoke.)
• Noun (soup):
  • Mẹ nấu món cá ám rất ngon. (My mother cooks a delicious fish ám soup.)

Advanced Usage

• "bị ma ám": to be haunted or possessed by a ghost. This is a common collocation.
  • Ngôi nhà cũ bị ma ám. (The old house is haunted.)
• "ám ảnh": to obsess, to haunt (mentally). This compound word refers to a persistent, troubling thought or memory.
  • Cô ấy bị ám ảnh bởi quá khứ. (She is haunted by the past.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ám khói (v): to be smoke-stained or blackened by smoke.
• Ám chỉ (v): to hint, to imply, to allude. (Note: This is a distinct compound verb).
  • Anh ấy ám chỉ rằng tôi đã sai. (He hinted that I was wrong.)

Synonyms

• To possess: to haunt, to control.
• To annoy: to pester, to disturb, to bother.
• To darken: to blacken, to stain, to obscure.
• Soup: stew, potage.

Related Idioms

• "Tâm trí bị ám": one's mind is clouded or obsessed.
  • Nỗi lo lắng khiến tâm trí anh ấy bị ám. (Worry clouded his mind.)
• "Ám muội": (adjective) dark, obscure, ignorant. This literary term describes a state of darkness or lack of understanding.
  • Những thế lực ám muội. (Dark/obscure forces.)

noun

1. Thick fish soup flavoured with herbs

verb

1. To possess
   • chắc là hắn bị quỷ ám, vì hắn khoa tay múa chân và la hét suốt ngày!
     he's probably possessed by the devil, because he gesticulates and shrieks night and day!
2. To annoy, to worry
   • đừng ám bố mày nữa, ông ấy bị cao huyết áp trầm trọng đấy!
     stop annoying your father, because he is seriously hypertensive!
3. To darken, to stain, to obscure
   • bầu trời bị mây đen ám
     the sky is darkened by the black clouds
   • tan rồi mây ám trời xanh
     dispersed, that cloud which darkened the blue sky
   • quần áo ám đen vì thuốc đạn