Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Terrified; horrified; frightened to death: Describes a state of extreme fear or terror, often to the point of being paralyzed or overwhelmed by it. It implies a fear more intense than simple fright.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nghe tiếng gầm trong bóng tối, nó khiếp đảm. (Hearing the growl in the darkness, he was terrified.)
  • Bọn cướp khiếp đảm bỏ chạy khi thấy cảnh sát. (The robbers, horrified, ran away when they saw the police.)
  • Cô ấy khiếp đảm trước cảnh tượng đẫm máu. (She was frightened to death by the bloody scene.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in literary or dramatic contexts to describe profound dread. It can describe the effect something or someone has on others.
  • Danh tiếng của vị tướng khiến kẻ thù khiếp đảm. (The general's reputation made the enemy terrified.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khiếp sợ (adj/v): to fear; to be afraid. A more general term for fear, but less intense than "khiếp đảm."

  • Nó khiếp sợ những con rắn. (He is afraid of snakes.)

• Kinh hãi (adj): horrified, appalled. Similar intensity, often used for fear mixed with disgust or shock.

  • Mọi người kinh hãi trước tội ác. (People were horrified by the crime.)

Synonyms

• Terrified: filled with extreme fear.
• Horrified: struck with horror.
• Frightened to death: extremely scared.

Related Idioms

• Khiếp đảm run sợ: to tremble in terror. Emphasizes the physical reaction of shaking from fear.
  • Tên tội phạm khiếp đảm run sợ trước tòa. (The criminal trembled in terror before the court.)

1. Be frightened to death