Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a strong, unpleasant smell; stinking; fetid: "hôi hám" describes something that emits a very bad, offensive odor. It is a stronger and more general term than just "hôi" (smelly).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Căn phòng này hôi hám quá, hãy mở cửa sổ ra! (This room is so stinking, please open the window!)
  • Quần áo thể thao để lâu ngày trở nên hôi hám. (Sports clothes left for many days become fetid.)
  • Thùng rác đầy khiến nhà bếp hôi hám. (The full trash bin makes the kitchen smell terrible.)

Advanced Usage

• "hôi hám khó chịu": unpleasantly stinking.
  • Mùi thức ăn thối rữa hôi hám khó chịu. (The smell of rotten food is unpleasantly foul.)
• Used to emphasize a pervasive, bad smell, often implying neglect or poor hygiene.

Variants and Related Words

• Hôi (adj): smelly, malodorous. (A simpler, less intense form).
  • Mồ hôi hôi. (Sweat is smelly.)
• Thối (adj): rotten, putrid. (Often describes decay).
  • Thịt thối. (Rotten meat.)
• Nồng nặc (adj): pungent, acrid. (Strong, often sharp smell, not necessarily foul).
  • Mùi thuốc lá nồng nặc. (The pungent smell of cigarette smoke.)

Synonyms

• Foul-smelling: có mùi hôi thối.
• Stinking: bốc mùi hôi.
• Rank: hôi nồng nặc (e.g., of sweat).
• Putrid: thối rữa.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Hôi hám mồ hôi: reeking of sweat.
  • Áo sau khi tập gym hôi hám mồ hôi. (The shirt after the gym reeks of sweat.)
• Hôi hám rượu bia: stinking of alcohol.
  • Anh ấy về nhà, hôi hám rượu bia. (He came home, stinking of alcohol.)

Related Idioms

• Hôi như cú: (lit. smelly like an owl) - to stink terribly. (A common simile emphasizing a very bad smell).
  • Con mèo bị ướt, hôi như cú. (The wet cat stinks to high heaven.)

adj

1. fetid