Definition

1. Adjective (descriptive of sound):
   • Rumbling, booming, thundering: A deep, heavy, continuous, and resonant sound, often associated with thunder, large machinery, explosions, or heavy objects moving or falling.
   • Deafening, tumultuous: Describing a loud, overwhelming, and chaotic noise, such as that of a large crowd, intense battle, or powerful storm.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sấm ì ầm ở đằng xa. (Thunder rumbling in the distance.)
  • Tiếng máy nổ ì ầm cả khu phố. (The sound of the engine rumbled throughout the neighborhood.)
  • Chiến trường ì ầm tiếng đại bác. (The battlefield was thundering with the sound of cannons.)

Advanced Usage

• Used as a reduplicative (lặp từ) to vividly mimic and emphasize the nature of a deep, loud, and continuous sound. It often conveys a sense of power, menace, or overwhelming force.
• Can describe abstract concepts of noisy commotion or uproar.
  • Dư luận ì ầm về vụ scandal. (Public opinion is in an uproar about the scandal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ầm ầm (adj/adv): Similar meaning of rumbling or roaring, sometimes with a more repetitive or rolling quality.
  • Thác nước đổ ầm ầm. (The waterfall poured down with a roar.)
• Ầm ĩ (adj): Noisy, clamorous, making a loud and often annoying disturbance. While "ì ầm" focuses on the deep, resonant quality, "ầm ĩ" focuses more on the disruptive volume.
  • Bọn trẻ chơi đùa ầm ĩ. (The children were playing noisily.)

Synonyms

• Rumble: A continuous deep, resonant sound.
• Boom: A deep, loud, echoing sound.
• Roar: A full, deep, prolonged sound.
• Thunder: To make a loud, deep, resounding noise.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ì ầm như sấm: As loud as thunder; a simile emphasizing great noise.
  • Tiếng động cơ ì ầm như sấm. (The engine noise was as loud as thunder.)
• Nổi lên ì ầm: To erupt or break out noisily (e.g., a controversy, a fight).
  • Vụ tranh cãi nổi lên ì ầm trên báo chí. (The controversy erupted noisily in the press.)

1. Rumble
   • Sấm ì ầm ở đằng xa
     Thunder rumbling in the distance