khom khòm
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Slightly bent, somewhat stooped: Describes a posture or shape that is not fully straight, having a gentle curve or bend, often referring to a person's back or an object.
- Hunched, crouched: Can describe the act of bending the body forward and down.
Usage
- This word is a reduplicative form (từ láy) derived from the root "khòm." Reduplicative words in Vietnamese often soften the meaning, add a descriptive quality, or indicate a repeated/continuous state. "Khom khòm" typically describes a mild, continuous, or habitual state of being bent over, rather than a single, sharp action.
- It is primarily used to describe physical posture.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ông cụ đi khom khòm vì đau lưng. (The old man walks slightly stooped because of back pain.)
- Nó ngồi khom khòm trong góc phòng. (He sat hunched over in the corner of the room.)
- Hàng cây đứng khom khòm trước gió. (The row of trees stood slightly bent in the wind.)
Advanced Usage
- Describing habitual posture: Often used to depict a characteristic way of standing or moving due to age, habit, or effort.
- Bà ấy đã quen làm việc khom khòm trên đồng ruộng. (She is accustomed to working in a stooped position in the fields.)
Variants and Related Words
- Khòm (verb/adjective): To bend over, to stoop. This is the root word. "Khom khòm" is a softer, more descriptive version.
- Ông ấy khòm lưng nhặt đồ. (He bent over to pick up the item.)
- Còng (adjective): Hunched, stooped (often implies a more severe or permanent curvature, like a hunched back).
- Lưng còng vì tuổi già. (A back hunched due to old age.)
Synonyms
- Gù lưng: To have a hunched back.
- Cúi: To bend down (often for a short-term action).
- Cong: Bent, curved (can apply to objects more generally).
Notes
- As indicated in the reference context ("xem khòm"), "khom khòm" is directly related to and its meaning is best understood through the root word "khòm." The reduplication adds a sense of continuity or a less severe degree.
- xem khòm (láy)