Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling of fullness (in the stomach): Describes the physical sensation of being satiated or having a full stomach after eating, often due to food that is heavy or filling.
   • Reassured, feeling secure/at ease: Describes a psychological state of being comforted, reassured, or having one's worries alleviated, leading to a sense of security.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Physical Fullness):
  • Cơm gạo lứt rất chắc dạ. (Brown rice is very filling.)
  • Tôi ăn một bát phở là thấy chắc dạ ngay. (I feel full right after eating a bowl of pho.)
• Adjective (Psychological Reassurance):
  • Nghe lời hứa của anh ấy, tôi thấy chắc dạ hơn. (Hearing his promise, I felt more reassured.)
  • Có bố mẹ ở bên, các con sẽ chắc dạ mà ngủ. (With parents nearby, the children will sleep feeling secure.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used to describe foods that provide long-lasting satiety, contrasting with lighter snacks.
• In its psychological sense, it implies a deep, settled feeling of trust or relief, often after a worry has been resolved.

Variants and Related Words

• Chắc (adj): Firm, solid, sure. The core meaning contributes to both "firm/full stomach" and "sure/secure mind."
• No dạ / Đầy bụng: These phrases specifically mean "full (stomach)" but lack the connotation of lasting satiety or psychological reassurance found in "chắc dạ."
• Yên tâm / An lòng: Synonyms for the psychological meaning, translating to "feel at ease" or "be reassured."

Synonyms

• Physical: No lâu, cứng bụng (colloquial terms for filling).
• Psychological: Yên tâm, an tâm, an lòng (feel at ease, reassured).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Ăn cho chắc dạ: To eat to feel full/substantiated. Often used before a long task or journey.
  • Đi đường dài, phải ăn cho chắc dạ đã. (It's a long trip, we must eat something filling first.)
• Ngủ cho chắc dạ: To sleep soundly/peacefully (because one feels secure).
  • Có người trông nhà, tôi mới ngủ cho chắc dạ được. (Only with someone house-sitting can I sleep soundly.)

1. To have a feeling of fullness (in one's stomach)
   • ngô là thức ăn chắc dạ
     maize gives one a feeling of fullness, maize is a stodge (a stodgy food, a filling food)