Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Quiet, silent, still: Describes a state where sound, activity, or news has ceased or become absent, creating a noticeable lack of noise or information.
   • Interrupted, ceased: Indicates that something, such as news, communication, or a sound, has stopped or been cut off.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Căn nhà trở nên ắng lặng. (The house became quiet and still.)
  • Tin tức ắng lại. (The news ceased / was interrupted.)
  • Đường phố ắng vắng vào ban đêm. (The streets are deserted/silent at night.)

Advanced Usage

• "ắng lặng": profoundly quiet or silent.

  • Khu rừng ắng lặng đến lạ thường. (The forest was unusually silent.)

• "ắng vắng": deserted, devoid of people and activity.

  • Ngôi làng ắng vắng sau khi mọi người ra đi. (The village was deserted after everyone left.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vắng (adj): absent, empty, deserted. While similar, "vắng" often focuses on the absence of people or things, whereas "ắng" emphasizes the resulting silence or cessation.
  • Văn phòng vắng người. (The office is empty of people.)

Synonyms

• Quiet: making little or no noise.
• Silent: completely quiet; without sound.
• Still: deep silence and calm.

Related Idioms

• Ắng tai: (to be) pleasing to the ear; melodious. (Note: This is a less common, positive usage contrasting with the main meaning of silence.)
  • Giọng hát của cô ấy thật ắng tai. (Her singing voice is very melodious.)