Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sad, sorrowful, melancholy: A state of feeling or showing unhappiness, grief, or low spirits. It describes a deep, often quiet, and lingering sadness.
   • Gloomy, dismal: Can describe an atmosphere, scene, or appearance that evokes or reflects sadness.

Usage Examples

• As an adjective:
  • Cô ấy trông rất buồn bã sau khi nghe tin. (She looked very sad after hearing the news.)
  • Khung cảnh hoàng hôn thật buồn bã. (The sunset scene was truly melancholy.)
  • Anh ấy có một nỗi buồn bã sâu thẳm trong mắt. (He had a deep sadness in his eyes.)

Advanced Usage

• "buồn bã trong lòng": to be sad at heart; to feel sorrow internally.
  • Dù cười nói nhưng cô ấy vẫn buồn bã trong lòng. (Even though she talks and laughs, she is still sad at heart.)
• Used to describe prolonged or profound emotional states, not just momentary disappointment. It often implies a thoughtful, pensive, or weary sadness.

Variants and Related Words

• Buồn (adj): Sad, unhappy. (A more general and common term for sadness.)
• Sầu buồn (adj): Melancholic, sorrowful. (More literary, emphasizing deep grief.)
• U sầu (adj): Gloomy, melancholic. (Often describes a dark, depressed mood or atmosphere.)
• Buồn bực (adj): Annoyed, irritated, and sad. (Combines sadness with frustration.)
• Buồn rầu (adj): Sad and worried; sorrowful. (Similar to , sometimes with an added sense of anxiety.)

Synonyms

• Sad: The most direct and general translation.
• Melancholy: A deep, persistent, and often gentle sadness.
• Sorrowful: Full of or feeling sorrow; grievous.
• Gloomy: Causing or feeling depression or despondency.
• Dismal: Causing a mood of gloom or depression.

Related Phrases

• Vẻ mặt buồn bã: a sad face; a sorrowful countenance.
  • Cậu bé có vẻ mặt buồn bã khi bị mất đồ chơi. (The boy had a sad face when he lost his toy.)
• Tâm trạng buồn bã: a sad mood; a melancholy state of mind.
  • Cô ấy đang có tâm trạng buồn bã nên không muốn nói chuyện. (She is in a sad mood so she doesn't want to talk.)

Related Idioms

• Buồn như cha chết: (Idiom: Sad as if one's father died) - Extremely sad, devastated. (Note: This is a strong, colloquial idiom.)
• Buồn thiu buồn thỉu: (Idiomatic reduplication) - Very sad and listless; moping around in sadness.
  • Nó ngồi buồn thiu buồn thỉu một mình trong phòng. (He sat alone in his room, moping around sadly.)

1. Sad, melancholy
   • buồn bã trong lòng
     to be sad at heart
   • vẻ mặt buồn bã
     to look sad
   • cảnh trời chiều buồn bã
     the dusky scenery was melancholy
   • tiếng dế kêu nghe thật buồn bã
     the chirping of crickets sounded sad indeed