buồn buồn
Definition
- Adjective:
- Slightly sad, melancholic: A state of mild, vague, or lingering sadness, not intense but present. Often describes a subtle, gentle melancholy or a wistful mood.
- Bored, listless: Can describe a feeling of mild boredom or restlessness, a sense of having nothing to do that leads to a low, subdued mood.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Trời chiều mưa nhẹ khiến tôi cảm thấy buồn buồn. (The light afternoon rain made me feel slightly sad.)
- Ngồi một mình trong phòng, cô ấy có tâm trạng buồn buồn. (Sitting alone in the room, she was in a melancholic mood.)
- Chủ nhật rảnh rỗi, không biết làm gì, anh ấy thấy buồn buồn. (Free on Sunday with nothing to do, he felt listless.)
Advanced Usage
"Lòng buồn buồn": A melancholic heart/feeling.
- Nghe bản nhạc cũ, lòng tôi chợt buồn buồn. (Listening to the old song, my heart suddenly felt wistful.)
Used to soften the intensity of "buồn" (sad), indicating the feeling is not severe but more of a gentle, contemplative state.
Variants and Related Words
- Buồn (adj): Sad, sorrowful. This is the root word. "Buồn buồn" is a reduplicative form that lessens the intensity.
- Buồn bã (adj): Sad, sorrowful (often with a more visible or deeper connotation than "buồn buồn").
- Buồn rầu (adj): Sad, grieved.
- Buồn chán (adj): Bored and sad, depressed.
Synonyms
- Hơi buồn: A little sad.
- Man mác buồn: A diffuse, spreading sadness (more poetic).
- Chán nản: Discouraged, disheartened (stronger than boredom).
Related Phrases/Idioms
- Buồn buồn tủi tủi: Feeling both slightly sad and slightly sorry for oneself; a state of gentle self-pity mixed with melancholy.
- Nhớ về quá khứ, bà cụ thấy buồn buồn tủi tủi. (Remembering the past, the old lady felt a melancholic self-pity.)