khòm
Definition
Adjective:
- Hunched, stooped, bent over: Describes a posture where the back is curved forward, often due to age, carrying a heavy load, or habit.
- Crooked, not straight: Can describe something that is bent or curved out of its normal straight shape.
Verb:
- To hunch, to stoop, to bend over: The action of curving the back and shoulders forward.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Ông cụ đã già nên lưng hơi khòm. (The old man is aged, so his back is slightly hunched.)
- Cái cây bị bão làm cho thân khòm xuống. (The tree's trunk was bent down by the storm.)
Verb:
- Anh ấy phải khòm lưng để bước qua cánh cửa thấp. (He had to hunch his back to pass through the low door.)
- Người nông dân khòm người xuống để nhổ cỏ. (The farmer bent over to pull the weeds.)
Advanced Usage
"khòm khòm": (reduplicated form) Describes a state of being somewhat hunched or slightly bent.
- Dáng đi của bà lão khòm khòm. (The old woman's walking posture is somewhat stooped.)
"lưng khòm" / "khòm lưng": A common collocation meaning "hunched back".
- Công việc đồng áng lâu năm khiến ông ấy bị lưng khòm. (Years of farm work gave him a hunched back.)
Variants and Related Words
Khom: This is the standard, more common form of the word. "Khòm" is a variant pronunciation/spelling. The meanings are identical.
- Cô ấy khom người nhặt cuốn sách. (She bent over to pick up the book.)
Còng (adj): Also means hunched or stooped, often implying a more severe or permanent curvature (e.g., lưng còng).
- Gù (adj): Specifically means hunchbacked.
Synonyms
- Cong (adj): Bent, curved, arched. (Can refer to objects more generally).
- Cúi (v): To bow, to bend forward (often the head or upper body).
Related Phrases
Đi khòm lưng: To walk with a hunched back.
- Ông ấy đi khòm lưng vì đau lưng kinh niên. (He walks with a hunched back due to chronic back pain.)
Ngồi khòm: To sit in a hunched or crouched position.
- Đứa trẻ ngồi khòm trên sàn nhà để chơi. (The child sat hunched on the floor to play.)
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như khom
