Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sink: To descend below the surface of a liquid, especially water, due to being denser or heavier than the liquid.
   • To be submerged/immersed: To be located or to become located entirely beneath the surface of water or another liquid.
   • To be sunken/recessed: To be set below the level of the surrounding surface.
   • To be engulfed/plunged into: To become deeply involved in, overwhelmed by, or lost within a non-physical state or condition (e.g., darkness, thought, the past).
   • To subside/ebb: To become less active, intense, or prominent; to fade.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chiếc tàu chìm dưới đáy biển. (The ship sank to the bottom of the sea.)
  • Xác chết chìm xuống nước. (The corpse sank into the water.)
  • Chiếc đò đang chìm dần. (The boat is slowly sinking.)
  • Làng xóm chìm trong đêm tối. (The hamlets and villages were engulfed in the dark night.)
  • Câu chuyện đó đã chìm sâu vào dĩ vãng. (That story has sunk deep into the past.)
  • Phong trào có phần chìm xuống. (The movement has subsided somewhat.)

Advanced Usage

• "Khắc chìm": Sunken carving; intaglio. A design carved or etched into a surface so it lies below the surface level.
  • Chiếc nhẫn có hình khắc chìm. (The ring has an intaglio design.)
• "Của chìm": Literally "sunken/sunken property." Refers to hidden wealth, treasure, or assets that are concealed or not readily visible.
  • Tìm thấy của chìm trong vụ án. (Hidden assets were discovered in the case.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chìm đắm (v): To be immersed in, absorbed by, or addicted to (often emotions or vices).
  • Anh ấy chìm đắm trong âm nhạc. (He is immersed in music.)
• Chìm nổi (adj/phr): Literally "sinking and floating." Describes a life or situation full of ups and downs, vicissitudes.
  • Cuộc đời chìm nổi. (A life of vicissitudes.)
• Đắm chìm (v): To be deeply engrossed or lost in (a state, feeling, or activity).
  • Cô ấy đắm chìm trong hạnh phúc. (She is lost in happiness.)

Synonyms

• Sink: To go down below the surface.
• Submerge: To put or go under water.
• Engulf: To surround and cover completely.
• Subside: To become less intense or active.

Related Idioms

• Nổi chìm: Literally "to float and sink." Figuratively means to experience the vicissitudes of life, to go through good and bad times.
  • Trải qua bao phen nổi chìm. (To have gone through many ups and downs.)
• Chìm xuồng: Literally "the boat sinks." Means to fail completely, to come to ruin (of a plan, business, etc.).
  • Dự án đó đã chìm xuồng. (That project has sunk/failed.)

verb

1. To sink
   • chiếc tàu chìm dưới đáy biển
     the ship was sunk deep at the bottom of the sea
   • xác chết chìm xuống nước
     the corpse sank into the water
   • chiếc đò đang chìm dần
     the boat was slowly sinking
   • khắc chìm
     sunk carving
   • của chìm
     sunk property, hidden wealth
   • làng xóm chìm trong đêm tối
     hamlet and village was sunk in darkness
   • câu chuyện đó đã chìm sâu vào dĩ vãng
     that story is sunk deep in the past, that story belongs now to the distant past