Definition

Adjective: - Rancid: Describes a state where fats or oils have decomposed due to oxidation or bacterial action, producing a distinctly unpleasant, stale, and often sour smell and taste. It is commonly used for spoiled food items like butter, cooking oil, or nuts.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bơ này đã ôi khét rồi, không dùng được nữa. (This butter has gone rancid; it's no longer usable.)
  • Mùi dầu ăn ôi khét lan tỏa khắp nhà bếp. (The smell of rancid cooking oil spread throughout the kitchen.)
  • Hạt để lâu ngày dễ bị ôi khét. (Nuts left for a long time easily become rancid.)

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively to describe something stale or unpleasant: While the primary meaning is literal, it can sometimes be applied metaphorically.
  • Không khí trong phòng họp thật ôi khét và ngột ngạt. (The atmosphere in the meeting room was stale and stifling.) (Note: This is a less common, figurative extension.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ôi (adj): Spoiled, rotten (a more general term for spoiled food, not specific to fats/oils).
  • Sữa đã ôi. (The milk has spoiled.)
• Khét (adj): Burnt, scorched (describing a smell from burning).
  • Mùi khét của thức ăn cháy. (The burnt smell of scorched food.)
• Hôi (adj): Smelly, foul-smelling (a general term for bad odors).
  • Thịt để lâu bắt đầu hôi. (The meat left out has started to smell foul.)

Synonyms

• Hỏng (adj): Spoiled, broken.
• Thiu (adj): Sour, spoiled (often used for cooked rice or certain foods).
• Có mùi khó chịu (phrase): To have an unpleasant smell.

Notes on Usage

• "Ôi khét" is a compound adjective. It is a fixed combination where "ôi" indicates spoilage and "khét" specifies the type of spoilage characteristic of fats and oils. It is typically used together as a single unit to convey this specific meaning.
• The word is almost exclusively used in a literal sense to describe the spoilage of fatty substances. Its figurative use is rare and context-dependent.
• It carries a strong negative connotation and is a clear indicator that the food item is unsafe or unpleasant to consume.

1. Rancid