Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Very; extremely: Used after an adjective or a verb to intensify its meaning, indicating a high degree.
   • A lot; much; many: Used to emphasize a large quantity or amount, often following verbs like "có" (to have) or adjectives related to quantity.

Usage Examples

• Adverb (intensifying):

  • Cô ấy đẹp lắm. (She is very beautiful.)
  • Tôi mệt lắm. (I am extremely tired.)
  • Bài hát này hay lắm. (This song is really good.)

• Adverb (indicating large quantity):

  • Anh ấy có tiền lắm. (He has a lot of money.)
  • Ở đây có người lắm. (There are many people here.)
  • Nó nói lắm. (He/She talks a lot.)

Advanced Usage

• Reduplicated form "lắm lắm": Used for even stronger emphasis, meaning "very very much" or "extremely."
  • Cảm ơn bạn lắm lắm! (Thank you very, very much!)
  • Tôi muốn đi lắm lắm. (I want to go so, so much.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rất (adv): Very. (A more neutral and common intensifier placed before the adjective/verb, whereas "lắm" comes after.)

  • Cô ấy rất đẹp. (She is very beautiful.)

• Quá (adv): Too, very. (Can be used before or after the adjective/verb, often implying excess.)

  • Đẹp quá! (Too/So beautiful!)

Synonyms

• Very: To a high degree.
• Extremely: To a very great degree.
• A lot: A large amount or number.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lắm mồm lắm miệng: To be talkative or mouthy (literally: many mouths).

  • Đứa bé đó lắm mồm lắm miệng. (That child is very talkative.)

• Lắm thầy thối ma: Too many cooks spoil the broth (literally: many masters, the corpse rots).

  • Dự án thất bại vì lắm thầy thối ma. (The project failed because there were too many bosses.)

• Lắm tiền nhiều của: To be very wealthy (literally: much money, many possessions).

  • Gia đình họ lắm tiền nhiều của. (Their family is very rich.)

adv. much; many; very; a lot