Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Singed; Scorched: Describes an object that has been superficially burned or blackened by brief contact with fire or extreme heat, often resulting in a burnt smell and discoloration but not complete destruction.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bàn là nóng quá, sơ mi lại cháy sém rồi. (The iron is too hot, the shirt has been singed again.)
  • Lông mèo bị cháy sém. (The cat's fur got singed.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a minor, accidental burn that damages the surface or edges of something, such as fabric, hair, or food.

Variants and Related Words

• Cháy (v): to burn, to be on fire.
• Sém (adj): can be used informally to mean "singed" or "scorched," often paired with "cháy" for emphasis.

Synonyms

• Singed: lightly burned on the surface.
• Scorched: slightly burned, discolored by heat.
• Charred: partially burned, blackened on the outside.

Related Idioms

• While "cháy sém" itself is not an idiom, it is a descriptive compound often used in contexts involving minor accidents with heat or fire.

1. Licked up by the flame; singed
   • Bàn là nóng quá sơ mi lại cháy sém rồi
     The iron is too hot, the shirt has been singed