Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Completely silent, utterly quiet: Describes a state of absolute silence, where no sound is made or no words are spoken. It emphasizes a continuous, unbroken, and often stubborn or intentional quietness.
   • Tightly shut, sealed without a sound: Used to describe something, like a door or mouth, that is closed firmly and silently, contributing to an overall atmosphere of quiet.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cửa đóng im ỉm cả ngày. (The door was shut tight and silent the whole day.)
  • Nó ngồi im ỉm trong góc, không nói một lời. (He sat completely silent in the corner, not saying a word.)
  • Mọi người đều im ỉm nghe cô ấy nói. (Everyone fell utterly silent to listen to her speak.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "im ỉm" often carries a nuance beyond simple silence. It can imply a deliberate, resolute, or even sullen refusal to speak or make noise, creating a palpable tension or atmosphere.
  • Sau khi bị mắng, nó cứ im ỉm thế. (After being scolded, he just stayed stubbornly silent like that.)

Variants and Related Words

• Im lặng (adj): silent, quiet. (A more general, neutral term for silence.)
• Im thin thít (adj): to keep mum, to be absolutely quiet. (Similar to "im ỉm" but can be more idiomatic and emphatic about refusing to talk.)

Synonyms

• Silent: making no sound.
• Quiet: with little or no noise.
• Mute: refraining from speech.
• Taciturn: reserved or uncommunicative in speech.

Related Idioms

• Im như thóc: (To be as silent as unhusked rice) An idiom meaning to be completely silent, often when one should be speaking.
  • Khi được hỏi, nó chỉ im như thóc. (When asked, he just remained dead silent.)

1. Silent
   • Cửa đóng im ỉm cả ngày
     Door silently shut the whole day