Definition

1. Adjective (Tính từ):
   • Intimidating, menacing, fierce: Describes a look, expression, or appearance that is threatening, fierce, or causes a slight feeling of fear or intimidation. It often refers to eyes or a gaze.
   • Grim, stern: Describes a serious and unfriendly expression or demeanor.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta nhìn tôi với ánh mắt gườm gườm. (He looked at me with a menacing glare.)
  • Con chó đứng đó với vẻ mặt gườm gườm. (The dog stood there with a fierce look.)
  • Sau câu nói đó, ông ấy trở nên gườm gườm. (After that statement, he became very stern.)

Advanced Usage

• "gườm gườm đáng sợ": frighteningly fierce/intimidating.
  • Cái nhìn của hắn gườm gườm đáng sợ. (His look was frighteningly menacing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gườm (verb/tính từ): To glare, to look fiercely; fierce, grim. This is the root word from which "gườm gườm" is derived as a reduplicative (láy) form, which intensifies the meaning.
  • Nó gườm tôi một cái rồi bỏ đi. (He glared at me once and then left.)

Synonyms

• Dữ tợn: fierce, ferocious (often stronger).
• Hầm hầm: fuming, seething (with anger).
• Nghiêm nghị: stern, solemn.
• Hắc ám: sinister, dark (in a metaphorical sense).

Notes on Usage

• "Gườm gườm" is a reduplicative word (từ láy) formed from the root "gườm". Reduplication in Vietnamese often adds emphasis or a descriptive quality. Here, it emphasizes the intimidating nature of the look or expression.
• It is primarily used to describe visual expressions, especially of the eyes or face, that convey threat, anger, or sternness.
• The word carries a connotation of a silent, visual threat rather than loud aggression.

1. xem gườm (láy)