Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Taciturn, uncommunicative: Describes a person who is habitually silent, reserved, and says very little, often appearing withdrawn or unresponsive in social situations.
   • Sullen, morose: Can also imply a gloomy, unsociable, or bad-tempered silence.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cậu bé ấy trông rất lầm lỳ và không muốn nói chuyện với ai. (That boy looks very taciturn and doesn't want to talk to anyone.)
  • Sau thất bại, anh ta trở nên lầm lỳ suốt nhiều ngày. (After the failure, he became sullen for many days.)
  • Tính cách lầm lỳ của anh ấy khiến người khác khó tiếp cận. (His uncommunicative nature makes him hard to approach.)

Advanced Usage

• "lầm lỳ không nói": sullenly/taciturnly not speaking.

  • Nó chỉ ngồi lầm lỳ không nói một lời. (He just sat there sullenly without saying a word.)

• "vẻ mặt lầm lỳ": a sullen/taciturn expression.

  • Cô ấy bước vào với vẻ mặt lầm lỳ. (She walked in with a sullen expression.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lầm lì (adj): This is a common variant spelling with the same meaning (taciturn, sullen).
• Ít nói (adj): Literally "speaks little"; a more neutral synonym for being quiet or reserved.
• Trầm mặc (adj): Reticent, meditatively quiet; often with a contemplative connotation, less negative than lầm lỳ.

Synonyms

• Câm lặng: Silent, mute (can imply a voluntary or involuntary silence).
• Rụt rè: Shy, timid (emphasizes bashfulness rather than sullenness).
• U ám: Gloomy, somber (more about mood or atmosphere, can describe a person's demeanor).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Lầm lỳ như hến: As taciturn/sullen as a clam. (A simile emphasizing extreme quietness or refusal to speak.)
  • Hỏi mãi mà nó chẳng đáp, cứ lầm lỳ như hến. (I asked repeatedly but he didn't answer, just staying silent as a clam.)

adjective

1. taciturn, bittle saying