Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly creepy, giving a slight chill: Describes a feeling that is somewhat eerie, spooky, or causes a slight shiver of fear or discomfort. It is a reduplicative form (láy) of the word "ớn," intensifying the sense of a creeping, mild fear or aversion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nghe câu chuyện ma ấy, tôi thấy ơn ớn sống lưng. (Listening to that ghost story gave me a slight chill down my spine.)
  • Căn phòng tối và yên tĩnh khiến tôi có cảm giác ơn ớn. (The dark and quiet room gave me a slightly creepy feeling.)
  • Món ăn này nhìn hơi ơn ớn, tôi không dám thử. (This dish looks a bit off-putting; I don't dare try it.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cảm thấy ơn ớn": to feel slightly creeped out.

  • Mỗi lần đi ngang qua ngôi nhà hoang, cô ấy đều cảm thấy ơn ớn. (Every time she passes the abandoned house, she feels slightly creeped out.)

• "Ơn ớn lạnh sống lưng": a chill running slightly down one's spine.

  • Tiếng gió rít qua khe cửa nghe mà ơn ớn lạnh sống lưng. (The sound of the wind whistling through the door crack sent a slight chill down my spine.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ớn (adj): The root word meaning to feel a shiver of fear, disgust, or cold; to be creeped out or revolted.

  • Nhìn con sâu tôi thấy ớn. (Looking at the worm gives me the creeps.)

• Ớn lạnh (adj): To feel a chill (often from fear or cold).

  • Câu chuyện khiến tôi ớn lạnh. (The story gave me chills.)

• Rùng mình (verb): To shudder, to shiver (often a stronger physical reaction than "ơn ớn").

  • Tôi rùng mình khi nghe tin đó. (I shuddered when I heard that news.)

Synonyms

• Hơi rợn: slightly frightening.
• Ám ảnh nhẹ: mildly haunting.
• Gai người: making one's hair stand on end (slightly stronger).

Related Idioms

• Nổi da gà: to get goosebumps (can be from cold, fear, or emotion).
  • Nghe giọng hát ấy, tôi nổi da gà. (Listening to that voice gave me goosebumps.)
  • Note: "Nổi da gà" often implies a more immediate physical reaction than the creeping sensation of "ơn ớn."

1. xem ớn (láy)