ùn
Definition
Verb:
- To pile up; to accumulate; to amass: Refers to objects or substances gathering together in a disorderly heap or large quantity, often causing obstruction.
- To crowd; to throng; to stream (in large numbers): Describes people or things moving or gathering in a dense, continuous, and often slow-moving mass.
Adjective (in reduplicated form "ùn ùn"):
- Billowing; rolling in thick masses: Used to depict clouds, smoke, or crowds moving or accumulating in a dense, voluminous, and continuous manner.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Rác ùn đầy sân. (Garbage is piling up all over the yard.)
- Xe cộ ùn lại ở ngã tư. (Vehicles are piling up/congesting at the intersection.)
- Adjective ("ùn ùn"):
- Mây ùn ùn ở chân trời. (Clouds are billowing in dense masses on the horizon.)
- Người ùn ùn kéo đến. (People are streaming in crowds.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often implies a sense of uncontrolled accumulation or slow, heavy movement leading to congestion or blockage.
- The reduplicated form "ùn ùn" intensifies the meaning, emphasizing great volume, density, and continuous flow.
Variants and Related Words
- Ùn tắc (v/n): to be congested; congestion (commonly used for traffic).
- Ùn tắc giao thông. (Traffic congestion.)
- Ùn ứ (v): to be backlogged; to be clogged up (often for work, documents, or goods).
- Hàng hóa ùn ứ tại cảng. (Goods are backlogged at the port.)
Synonyms
- Accumulate: to gather or pile up.
- Congest: to clog or overcrowd.
- Throng: to crowd or flock.
- Billow: to rise or roll in large waves (for smoke, clouds).
Related Idioms and Common Phrases
- Ùn như kiến: To crowd/swarm like ants. Describes a very dense and numerous gathering of people.
- Khán giả ùn như kiến trước cửa rạp. (The audience swarmed like ants in front of the theater door.)