Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Frowning, scowling: Describes a facial expression characterized by a wrinkled brow, often indicating displeasure, anger, concentration, or deep thought. It implies a stern, unsmiling, and somewhat gloomy appearance.
   • Sullen, glum: Can also describe a general mood or demeanor that is gloomy, sulky, or ill-humored, reflected in one's face.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sao anh lại có mặt chằm vằm thế? (Why do you have such a frowning face?)
  • Cô ấy ngồi một mình với vẻ chằm vằm suốt buổi sáng. (She sat alone with a sullen/scowling look all morning.)
  • Đừng nhìn chằm vằm như thế, có chuyện gì vậy? (Don't scowl like that, what's the matter?)

Advanced Usage

• "chằm vằm chằm vặp": An intensified or reduplicated form, emphasizing a state of being very sullen, constantly frowning, or in a persistently bad mood.
  • Cả ngày nó cứ chằm vằm chằm vặp với mọi người. (All day, he's just been constantly scowling and sulking at everyone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chau mày (verb phrase): To frown, to knit one's brows. This focuses more on the action of bringing the eyebrows together.
• Cáu kỉnh (adjective): Irritable, grumpy. Describes a bad-tempered mood, which may cause one to look .
• Ỉu xìu (adjective): Downcast, dejected, looking disappointed or sad, which can sometimes overlap with a expression.

Synonyms

• Cau có: Frowning, having a sour or angry expression.
• Gắt gỏng: Irritable, snappish (often describing tone/behavior, but can relate to facial expression).
• Rầu rĩ: Looking sorrowful, mournful (more sad than angry).

Notes on Meaning

• The word chằm vằm primarily describes a visual, physical expression on the face. While it implies an underlying negative emotion (anger, displeasure, sullenness), the core meaning is the visible scowl or frown itself.
• It is more vivid and colloquial than the neutral word .

1. Frowning
   • Mặt chằm vằm
     A frowning face