Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly sour, tart, or astringent: Describes a taste that is not fully sour but has a sharp, slightly puckering quality, often found in unripe fruits or certain foods.
   • Grumpy, sullen, or in a slightly bad mood: Describes a person's temporary state of being somewhat irritable, sulky, or displeased, often without a serious reason.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Taste):

  • Quả xoài này còn xanh nên ăn khăm khẳm. (This mango is still green, so it tastes slightly sour/tart.)
  • Vị nước chanh pha chưa đủ đường, uống khăm khẳm. (The lemonade doesn't have enough sugar; it tastes a bit tart.)

• Adjective (Mood):

  • Đừng hỏi nó chuyện gì, nó đang khăm khẳm đấy. (Don't ask him anything; he's in a bit of a grumpy mood.)
  • Sáng nay cô ấy thức dậy với vẻ mặt khăm khẳm. (She woke up this morning with a sullen look.)

Advanced Usage

• "khăm khẳm trong miệng": a tart/sour feeling in the mouth.

  • Ăn trái sung xong để lại cảm giác khăm khẳm trong miệng. (Eating a fig leaves a slightly astringent feeling in the mouth.)

• Used to describe an atmosphere or situation that is slightly tense or unpleasant.

  • Bầu không khí trong phòng họp khăm khẳm sau cuộc tranh cãi. (The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense/unpleasant after the argument.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khẳm (adj): This is the root form. "Khăm khẳm" is a reduplicative form that often intensifies or adds a nuance of slightness or persistence to the meaning of "khẳm," which itself means sour or sullen.
• Chua (adj): Means "sour." "Khăm khẳm" is less intense than "chua."
• Cáu kỉnh (adj): Means "irritable." "Khăm khẳm" is a milder, more temporary state of irritability.

Synonyms

• Chua lét (adj): Sourish, tart (for taste).
• Bực bội (adj): Annoyed, irritated (for mood). "Khăm khẳm" is milder.
• Cáu (adj): Grumpy, cross.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As an adjective, "khăm khẳm" does not form phrasal verbs. It can be part of descriptive phrases. - Làm mặt khăm khẳm: to pull a sullen/grumpy face. - Đứa trẻ làm mặt khăm khẳm khi không được mua đồ chơi. (The child pulled a sullen face when he wasn't allowed to buy a toy.)

Related Idioms

• Chua ngoa, khăm khẳm: Describes a person who is both sharp-tongued ("chua ngoa") and sullen ("khăm khẳm").
  • Tính cô ấy chua ngoa, khăm khẳm, ít ai chơi thân. (She has a sharp tongue and a sullen disposition, so few people are close to her.)