kìm hãm
Definition
- Verb:
- To restrain / to hold back: To actively prevent someone or something from moving, acting, or developing freely.
- To suppress / to curb: To keep something under control, often stopping it from increasing, growing, or being expressed.
- To hinder / to impede: To create an obstacle that slows down or limits progress or advancement.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Chính sách đó kìm hãm sự sáng tạo. (That policy stifles creativity.)
- Họ cố gắng kìm hãm cảm xúc của mình. (They try to suppress their emotions.)
- Điều kiện khắc nghiệt kìm hãm sự phát triển của cây. (The harsh conditions hinder the growth of the plants.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used in formal or academic contexts to describe the negative restriction of processes, forces, or potentials.
- Nạn tham nhũng kìm hãm sự phát triển kinh tế của quốc gia. (Corruption hampers the nation's economic development.)
Variants and Related Words
- Kìm chế (v): to control, to hold in check (often used for emotions or impulses).
- Anh ấy kìm chế cơn giận. (He controlled his anger.)
- Kìm nén (v): to repress, to hold down (similar to "kìm chế," but can imply more force).
- Cô ấy kìm nén nỗi buồn. (She repressed her sorrow.)
Synonyms
- Restrain: to hold back from action.
- Suppress: to put an end to the activity or expression of.
- Hinder: to create difficulties for something, resulting in delay or obstruction.
- Stifle: to suffocate or suppress.
Related Idioms
- Kìm hãm bước tiến: to hold back progress.
- Tư duy lạc hậu kìm hãm bước tiến của xã hội. (Outdated thinking holds back societal progress.)