Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Burning and spreading rapidly: Describes a fire that catches and spreads very quickly, often due to wind or favorable conditions.
   • Eating greedily and messily: Describes the manner of eating quickly, voraciously, and often with a lack of neatness.
   • Speaking rapidly and incessantly: Describes talking in a fast, non-stop, and often chattering manner.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ngọn lửa cháy lem lém vì gió lớn. (The fire burned and spread rapidly because of the strong wind.)
  • Đứa bé đói bụng, ăn lem lém. (The hungry child ate greedily and messily.)
  • Cô ấy nói lem lém, tôi không theo kịp. (She spoke rapidly and incessantly; I couldn't keep up.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "lem lém" is primarily used as a descriptive adjective and often carries a slightly informal or vivid, expressive tone. It is frequently used in similes for emphasis.

Variants and Related Words

• Lém (adj): This is the root word, often implying quickness, sharpness, or slyness (e.g., - very sly). "Lem lém" is a reduplicative form that intensifies the descriptive quality.

Synonyms

• Rapidly / Furiously (for fire spreading).
• Voraciously / Ravenously (for eating).
• Rapid-fire / Chatteringly (for speaking).

Related Idioms

• Ăn lem lém như gấu ăn trăng: To eat as greedily as a bear eating the moon (reflection). This idiom vividly illustrates eating in a hasty, messy, and voracious manner.
  • Sau buổi tập, các cầu thủ ăn lem lém như gấu ăn trăng. (After practice, the players ate as greedily as bears eating the moon.)