Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Growling, snarling, threatening: Describes a facial expression, tone of voice, or demeanor that shows anger, irritation, or a threatening attitude, often accompanied by low, guttural sounds. It implies suppressed rage that is about to erupt.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy trả lời với giọng điệu hằm hừ. (He answered in a growling / snarling tone.)
  • Con chó nhìn tôi với vẻ mặt hằm hừ. (The dog looked at me with a snarling expression.)
  • Đừng có cái giọng hằm hừ ấy với tôi! (Don't use that snappish / growling tone with me!)

Advanced Usage

• "hằm hè": This is a direct synonym and variant, used interchangeably with "hằm hừ" to describe a threatening, irritated demeanor.
  • Nó cứ ngồi hằm hè trong phòng cả buổi. (He just sat glowering / brooding in the room all afternoon.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hầm hầm (adj): Often describes a sullen, silently angry, or brooding facial expression. It can be slightly less overtly aggressive than "hằm hừ" but still indicates clear displeasure.
  • Mặt nó hầm hầm cả ngày hôm nay. (His face has been sullen / glowering all day today.)
• Hằn học (adj): Bitter, resentful, bearing a grudge. This word describes a deeper, more lasting state of resentment rather than an immediate threatening expression.
  • Anh ta nói với thái độ hằn học. (He spoke with a bitter / resentful attitude.)

Synonyms

• Growling: Making a low guttural sound of anger, like an animal.
• Snarling: Showing teeth and making an aggressive sound; often used for both animals and humans figuratively.
• Glowering: Having an angry or sullen look on one's face; staring fiercely.
• Threatening: Expressing an intention to cause harm or trouble.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Mặt hằm hằm hự hự: A reinforced phrase emphasizing a very angry, scowling, and grumpy facial expression.
  • Sao mặt hằm hằm hự hự thế? Có chuyện gì vậy? (Why do you look so grim and grumpy? What's wrong?)

1. như hằm hè