Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Lustful, lecherous: Having or showing excessive or unrestrained sexual desire.
   • Obscene, lascivious: Relating to or characterized by obscenity or lewdness.

2. Bound root:

   • This word is rarely used alone in modern Vietnamese. It most commonly appears as a bound root in compound words, where it contributes the meaning of "lust" or "sexual violation."

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tư tưởng dâm. (Lustful thoughts.)
  • Lời nói dâm. (Lewd/obscene speech.)

Advanced Usage & Notes

• Important Note on Usage: The word "dâm" is considered a sensitive, strong, and formal/literary term. In modern spoken Vietnamese, it is almost exclusively used within fixed compound words. Using it alone as an adjective can sound archaic, overly harsh, or excessively literary.
• Semantic Field: The word carries a strong negative moral judgment, implying excess, perversion, and illegitimacy ("" - not legitimate).

Variants and Related Words

• Hiếp dâm (v): To rape. This is the most common compound featuring "dâm."
• Dâm đãng (adj): Lewd, licentious, lustful. A more common adjective than "dâm" alone.
• Dâm ô (adj): Obscene, indecent; often used in legal contexts (e.g., - indecent acts).
• Dâm thư (n): Pornographic book/publication.
• Dâm dục (n): Lust, lewd desire.
• Dâm bạo (adj): Lustful and violent/brutal.

Synonyms

• Lăng loàn (adj): Promiscuous, wanton (often used for women, carries a strong negative judgment).
• Trụy lạc (adj): Decadent, debauched (implies moral decline due to pleasure-seeking).
• Tục tĩu (adj): Vulgar, coarse, dirty (can refer to general vulgarity, not exclusively sexual).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Dâm" as a bound root does not typically form standalone phrasal verbs or idioms. The idioms are formed with its compounds:
  • Nói chuyện dâm đãng: To talk in a lewd manner.
  • Phim ảnh dâm ô: Obscene films.

adj

1. lend; lustful
   • hiếp dâm
     to rape