Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Lacking appetite, having no desire to eat: "chán ăn" describes a state where one does not feel hungry or has lost interest in food.
   • Experiencing appetite loss: It indicates a temporary or prolonged condition of reduced or absent desire for food.

2. Noun (in compound form 'chứng chán ăn'):

   • Anorexia, loss of appetite: When used as a medical or psychological term, particularly in the compound "chứng chán ăn," it refers to the symptom or condition of appetite loss.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Tôi cảm thấy chán ăn mấy hôm nay vì thời tiết nóng. (I have been lacking appetite for a few days because of the hot weather.)
  • Bệnh nhân thường chán ăn và mệt mỏi. (Patients often have no desire to eat and feel tired.)

• Noun (in compound form):

  • Cô ấy đang điều trị chứng chán ăn. (She is being treated for anorexia.)
  • Chứng chán ăn có thể là dấu hiệu của nhiều bệnh khác nhau. (Loss of appetite can be a sign of various illnesses.)

Advanced Usage

• "cảm giác chán ăn": the feeling of having no appetite.

  • Sau cuộc phẫu thuật, anh ấy có cảm giác chán ăn kéo dài. (After the surgery, he had a prolonged feeling of having no appetite.)

• "tình trạng chán ăn": the state/condition of appetite loss.

  • Tình trạng chán ăn ở trẻ em cần được theo dõi cẩn thận. (The condition of appetite loss in children needs to be carefully monitored.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chán (adj): bored, fed up, weary. This is the root adjective meaning "to be tired of" or "to dislike."
• Ăn (v): to eat.
• Biếng ăn (adj): This is a near-synonym often used interchangeably with "chán ăn," especially concerning children. It can imply picky eating or reluctance to eat.
• Chứng biếng ăn (n): picky eating disorder, often used similarly to "chứng chán ăn."

Synonyms

• Mất cảm giác ngon miệng: to lose one's sense of taste/enjoyment of food.
• Không muốn ăn: to not want to eat.
• Ăn không ngon miệng: to eat without enjoyment (focuses more on the experience than the desire).

Related Phrases

• Chán nản (adj): discouraged, depressed, disheartened. This shares the root "chán" and describes a general state of low mood, which can be a cause or companion of "chán ăn."
• Bỏ bữa (v): to skip a meal. This is a potential action resulting from "chán ăn."

Related Idioms

Note: "Chán ăn" itself is not typically used in idiomatic expressions. However, the root word "chán" appears in idioms. - Chán như cơm nếp nát: As bored as soggy sticky rice (meaning extremely bored or fed up). This illustrates the core meaning of "chán."

1. Lose appetite
   • Chứng chán ăn
     Anorexia