Definition

1. Adverb:
   • With sudden haste, abruptly, impulsively: Describes an action performed with a sudden, quick, and often emotionally charged movement.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Đứa bé chạy đến ôm chầm lấy mẹ. (The child ran up to and clasped his mother with sudden haste.)
  • Cô ấy khóc chầm lên khi nghe tin buồn. (She burst into tears abruptly upon hearing the sad news.)
  • Anh ta vội vàng bước chầm vào phòng. (He hastily stepped into the room with a sudden movement.)

Advanced Usage

• "chầm chập": This is a reduplicative form, often used to describe a slow, heavy, or plodding pace, which is a distinct meaning from the sudden haste of "chầm".
  • Chiếc xe tải đi chầm chập trên con đường đất. (The truck moved slowly and heavily on the dirt road.)

Variants and Related Words

• chằm (adv): An older or variant form with a similar meaning of "with force" or "firmly". Note: In modern usage, "chằm" is less common and "chầm" is the standard form for the meaning of sudden haste.
  • Nó nắm chằm lấy tay tôi. (He gripped my hand firmly.)

Synonyms

• Vội vàng: Hastily, in a hurry (emphasizes speed rather than the suddenness of the action).
• Đột ngột: Suddenly, abruptly (describes the timing, not necessarily the physical manner).
• Hấp tấp: Rashly, impulsively (often with a connotation of carelessness).

Notes on Different Meanings

• The core meaning of "chầm" is an adverb describing a sudden, hasty physical action, often accompanied by emotion (e.g., joy, sorrow, urgency).
• It should not be confused with the adjective "chầm" (as in "nước chầm" - dipping sauce), which is a homonym with a completely different meaning (a type of sauce).
• The reduplicative form "chầm chậm" means "slowly", which is nearly the opposite of the core meaning of "chầm" alone. This is a common phenomenon in Vietnamese where reduplication changes the meaning.

adv

1. With sudden haste
   • đứa bé chạy đến ôm chầm lấy mẹ
     the child ran up to and clasped his mother with sudden haste