giấm
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. Vinegar: A sour-tasting liquid produced through the fermentation of ethanol, primarily used as a condiment, seasoning, or preservative in cooking. 2. (In traditional Vietnamese cuisine) A sour soup/broth: A soup or broth made with souring agents like star fruit (khế) or fermented rice (mẻ), as in giấm cá (sour fish soup).
Usage Examples
- (My mother often adds a little vinegar to the salad dressing.)
- (This spring roll needs a dipping sauce mixed with vinegar.)
- (In Northern Vietnam, sour fish soup is a distinctive dish.)
Advanced Usage
- "Dội giấm" / "Tạt giấm": To splash or pour vinegar (onto something). This can be used literally in cooking or figuratively to describe an action that adds a sharp, critical, or sobering element to a situation.
- Cô ấy như dội một gáo giấm vào buổi tiệc vui vẻ. (She was like splashing a ladle of vinegar onto the cheerful party - meaning she said something that dampened the mood.)
- "Chua như giấm": As sour as vinegar. A common simile used to describe a very sour taste or, metaphorically, a person's sharp, unpleasant speech or attitude.
- Giọng nói của bà ấy chua như giấm. (Her tone of voice is as sour as vinegar.)
Variants and Related Words
- Giấm gạo (n): Rice vinegar.
- Giấm táo (n): Apple cider vinegar.
- Giấm bỗng / Giấm thanh (n): A type of vinegar traditionally made from the lees or residue of rice wine fermentation.
- Dấm (n): A common alternate spelling for , especially in Southern Vietnam.
- Chua (adj): Sour; acidic. Describes the primary taste of vinegar.
Synonyms
- Vinegar (English equivalent): The direct translation for the condiment.
- Acid (in a broad chemical sense): .
- Souring agent: .
Related Phrases / Idioms
- Giấm chua, dưa khú: Vinegar is sour, pickles are spoiled. An idiom describing a situation where everything seems to be going wrong or turning bad.
- Ăn cơm với giấm: To eat rice with vinegar. An idiom implying a life of hardship, bitterness, or poverty.