Definition

1. Verb:
   • To press down, to hold down, to submerge: To exert downward force on something, often to keep it beneath a surface or to restrain its movement.
   • To suppress, to stifle, to quell: To prevent something (like an emotion, a sound, an action, or information) from being expressed, heard, or continuing.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy gìm chiếc phao xuống nước. (She pressed the float down into the water.)
  • Anh ấy cố gắng gìm cơn giận. (He tried to suppress his anger.)
  • Không ai có thể gìm được tiếng cười. (No one could stifle the laughter.)

Advanced Usage

• "gìm lại": to hold back, to restrain.
  • Anh ta phải gìm lại bước chân. (He had to hold back his steps.)
• "gìm xuống": to press down, to push down.
  • Gìm nắp hộp xuống cho chặt. (Press the box lid down tightly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dìm (verb): A common variant spelling of "gìm" with the same core meanings of submerging or suppressing.
  • dìm chết (to drown)
  • bị dìm trong quên lãng (to be sunk into oblivion)
• Nén (verb): to suppress, to hold in (often for emotions).
• Đè (verb): to press, to hold down (more physical).

Synonyms

• Nén: to restrain, to hold in.
• Kìm hãm: to curb, to restrain.
• Đè nén: to oppress, to suppress.
• Chế ngự: to control, to master (often emotions or situations).

Related Phrasal Verbs / Verb Phrases

• Gìm chân: to pin down, to hold someone in place (literally or figuratively).
  • Công việc gia đình gìm chân cô ấy. (Family work pins her down.)
• Gìm phanh: to slam on the brakes.
  • Tài xế phải gìm phanh gấp. (The driver had to slam on the brakes suddenly.)

Related Idioms

• Gìm tiếng thở dài: to suppress a sigh.
  • Cô gìm tiếng thở dài, cố tỏ ra mạnh mẽ. (She suppressed a sigh, trying to appear strong.)
• (Bị) gìm trong bóng tối: (to be) kept in the dark, suppressed and hidden.
  • Sự thật bị gìm trong bóng tối nhiều năm. (The truth was kept in the dark for many years.)