đen đét
Definition
- Adjective (Tính từ):
- Very black, pitch-black: An intensified form of "đen" (black), describing something that is extremely or completely black in color. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting something is unpleasantly, dirtily, or ominously dark.
- Figuratively, very unlucky, disastrous: Used to describe a situation or period of time that is extremely unfortunate, marked by bad luck, or a complete failure.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Căn phòng không có cửa sổ, tối đen đét. (The room has no windows; it's pitch-black dark.)
- Sau vụ cháy, bức tường bị ám khói đen đét. (After the fire, the wall was stained a sooty black.)
- Năm nay làm ăn đen đét, toàn thua lỗ. (Business this year has been disastrous, with nothing but losses.)
- Vận đen đét cứ đeo bám anh ấy. (A streak of terrible luck keeps following him.)
Advanced Usage
- "đen đét như củ súng": (idiomatic simile) As black as a burnt tree stump/charcoal. Used to emphasize extreme blackness, often from burning.
- Cái nồi bị cháy, đáy nồi đen đét như củ súng. (The pot got burnt; its bottom is as black as charcoal.)
Variants and Related Words
- Đen (adj): Black. The root word.
- Đen thui (adj): Also means very black; synonymous with "đen đét" but can sound slightly less intense or more colloquial.
- Đen kịt (adj): Jet-black, inky black. Focuses on the depth of the black color.
- Đen nghịt (adj): Densely black, often for clouds or smoke.
Synonyms
- Đen thui: Very black, pitch-dark.
- Đen kịt: Jet-black.
- Đen như mực: As black as ink.
- Tối om: Pitch-dark (for lack of light).
Notes on Usage
- "Đen đét" is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of "đen," used for emphasis. It is more expressive and vivid than the base word "đen."
- It is commonly used in spoken Vietnamese and informal writing.
- The word often implies a negative aesthetic (dirty, burnt, sooty) or a negative situation (bad luck), rather than a neutral or positive black (e.g., elegant black clothing).
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xem đét (láy)
