Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Imposing, majestic, sitting/standing in a dignified and self-important manner: Describes a posture or presence that is grand, stately, and often conveys a sense of self-satisfied importance or authority. It implies occupying a space in a way that commands attention due to its confident, settled, and sometimes slightly arrogant posture.

2. Adverb:

   • In an imposing, majestic, or self-important manner: Modifies a verb (like sitting or standing) to describe how the action is performed—with an air of grandeur, dignity, and settled authority.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Ông ta ngồi đó với vẻ chễm chệ. (He sat there with an imposing air.)
  • Chiếc ghế bành chễm chệ giữa phòng khách. (The armchair sat imposingly in the middle of the living room.)

• Adverb:

  • Ông chủ ngồi chễm chệ trên ghế. (The boss sat imposingly on the chair.)
  • Bức tượng chễm chệ đứng trước tòa nhà. (The statue stood majestically in front of the building.)

Advanced Usage

• "chễm chệ ngồi" / "ngồi chễm chệ": to sit imposingly/majestically. This is the most common collocation.

  • Anh ta chễm chệ ngồi ở vị trí danh dự. (He sat imposingly in the seat of honor.)

• Used to describe objects metaphorically to give them a dignified, settled, or dominant presence.

  • Lâu đài chễm chệ trên đỉnh đồi. (The castle sits imposingly on the hilltop.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chềm chễm (adj/adv): An older or variant form with the same meaning as "chễm chệ," describing a majestic, imposing posture.
  • Ngai vàng đặt chềm chễm trong điện. (The throne was placed imposingly in the palace.)

Synonyms

• Oai vệ: majestic, stately (emphasizes dignity and authority).
• Đường bệ: dignified, stately (emphasizes slow, deliberate, and grand movement or posture).
• Uy nghi: solemn and majestic (often with a solemn or awe-inspiring quality).

Related Idioms

• Chễm chệ như rể bà góa: (To sit/be) as imposing as a widowed mother's son-in-law. This proverb humorously criticizes someone who acts with unwarranted self-importance or who assumes a position of comfort and authority where they don't truly belong.
  • Hắn mới đến mà đã ngồi chễm chệ như rể bà góa. (He just arrived but is already sitting there as imposingly as a widowed mother's son-in-law.)

adj

1. Imposing
   • ngồi xếp bằng chễm chệ giữa giừơng
     to sit cross-legged imposingly in the middle of the bed