Definition

Adjective: - Completely silent, still, and quiet: Describes a state of absolute silence, stillness, or lack of any movement or sound. It often implies a deep, profound, or even eerie quietness. - Dormant, inactive: Can describe something that is not active or moving, as if asleep or in a state of suspension.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Căn phòng im lìm không một tiếng động. (The room was completely silent without a sound.)
  • Khu rừng im lìm trong sương sớm. (The forest was still in the early morning mist.)
  • Máy móc nằm im lìm sau nhiều năm không hoạt động. (The machinery lay dormant after many years of inactivity.)

Advanced Usage

• "im lìm như tờ": (as silent as a sheet of paper) An idiom emphasizing extreme silence.
  • Đêm khuya, con phố im lìm như tờ. (Late at night, the street was as silent as a sheet of paper.)
• "im lìm chịu đựng": (to endure in silence) To bear something quietly without complaint or reaction.
  • Cô ấy im lìm chịu đựng mọi chỉ trích. (She endured all the criticism in silence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Im ắng (adj): Quiet, silent (often for a place). Less intense than "im lìm".
  • Lớp học im ắng. (The classroom is quiet.)
• Im lặng (adj/verb): Silent, quiet; to be silent. A more general and common term.
  • Hãy giữ im lặng. (Please keep quiet.)
• Tĩnh lặng (adj): Peaceful, tranquil, calm (often for an atmosphere).
  • Một buổi chiều tĩnh lặng. (A peaceful afternoon.)

Synonyms

• Yên tĩnh: Quiet, tranquil.
• Yên lặng: Silent, still.
• Vắng lặng: Desolate and quiet.

Related Phrases

• Nằm im lìm: To lie completely still/motionless.
  • Con thú bị thương nằm im lìm dưới gốc cây. (The injured animal lay completely still under the tree.)

Related Idioms

• Im như thóc: (As silent as unhusked rice) Another idiom meaning very quiet, often used when someone refuses to speak.
  • Bị tra hỏi, nó cứ im như thóc. (When questioned, he remained completely silent / refused to speak.)

adj

1. quiet, dormart