lăm
Definition
- Numeral (Particle):
- Five (in compound numbers): Used exclusively after a tens digit (e.g., ten, twenty, thirty) to form the numbers 15, 25, 35, 45, etc. It is the variant of "năm" (five) used in these specific numeric constructions.
- Ready to; intending to: An archaic or literary verb meaning to be about to do something, to intend to do something immediately, or to be poised for action.
Usage Examples
- Numeral:
- Mười lăm học sinh. (Fifteen students.)
- Cô ấy hai mươi lăm tuổi. (She is twenty-five years old.)
- Verb (Archaic/Literary):
- Chưa đi đến chợ đã lăm ăn quà. (Before even arriving at the market, she was already intent on eating snacks.)
Advanced Usage
- "lăm lăm" (reduplicated form):
- To hold poised and ready; to be intently focused on (an aggressive action). This form intensifies the verbal meaning, often implying a threatening readiness.
- Hắn lăm lăm con dao trong tay. (He held the knife poised and ready in his hand.)
- Họ chỉ lăm lăm đánh nhau. (They were solely intent on fighting each other.)
Variants and Related Words
- năm (num): The standard word for "five" and for "year." Used in all other contexts (e.g., - the number five; - this year). Note: "lăm" replaces "năm" only in the units place after a tens digit.
Synonyms
- Numeral: five (specifically in the units place of compound numbers).
- Verb (archaic): to intend, to be about to, to be poised to.
Notes on Usage
- Critical Distinction: The use of lăm versus năm is a key rule in Vietnamese numerals. Use lăm for the digit 5 in numbers like 15, 25, 35... (e.g., ). Use năm for the number 5 itself, for 500, 5000, etc., and in numbers like 50, 51, 52... (e.g., - fifty, - fifty-five).
- The verbal meaning of lăm is now rare in modern everyday speech and is mostly found in idioms, folk poetry (ca dao), or literary contexts. The reduplicated form lăm lăm is more commonly encountered than the standalone verb.