khen khét

Món thịt nướng bị khen khét mất rồi.

Definitions

1. Adjective:
   • Burnt, scorched, having a burnt smell or taste: Describes something that has been burned, often food, resulting in an unpleasant smell or taste.
   • Overcooked to the point of burning: Refers to food that has been cooked for too long or at too high a temperature, causing it to become blackened and emit a burnt odor.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Món thịt nướng bị khen khét mất rồi.* (The grilled meat is *burnt.)
  • Có mùi khen khét bốc lên từ nhà bếp. (A *burnt smell is rising from the kitchen.)
  • Bánh mì cháy khen khét ở mặt dưới. (The bread is **scorched on the bottom.)

Advanced Usage

• "khen khét lỗ mũi": An idiom meaning something is so burnt the smell is pungent and offensive to the nose.
  • Cá rán khen khét lỗ mũi, không ăn được nữa.* (The fried fish is **completely burnt and reeks, it's inedible now.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khét (adj): The more common, standard word for "burnt" or "scorched." "Khen khét" is an emphatic or descriptive variant.
  • Cơm khét. (Burnt rice.)
• Cháy (adj): Literally "on fire" or "burned," often used for more severe burning or for non-food items.
  • Căn nhà bị cháy. (The house is on fire/burned.)
• Xém (adj): Slightly burnt or singed.
  • Bánh quy hơi xém. (The cookies are a little singed.)

Synonyms

• Cháy: burned, charred.
• Khét: burnt, scorched.
• Xém: singed.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Khét như mắm tôm: (Lit: Burnt like shrimp paste) An idiom to describe a very strong, pungent burnt smell.
  • Cái lò cũ này nướng gì cũng khét như mắm tôm.* (This old oven makes everything smell **pungently burnt.)
• Thơm tho khen khét: A sarcastic or ironic phrase meaning the opposite of "fragrant," used to describe something that smells badly burnt.
  • Mùi bánh mới ra lò thơm tho khen khét đây!* (Here's the 'lovely' **burnt smell of fresh bread from the oven!)