lạnh bụng
Definition
- Adjective (describing a physical state):
- To have a cold stomach / to feel cold in the abdomen: A physical sensation of coldness or chill localized in the stomach or abdominal area. This is often described as a symptom of digestive discomfort or illness.
- To have a foreboding feeling / a chill of apprehension: A figurative meaning describing a sudden feeling of fear, anxiety, or ominous premonition, as if a coldness has settled in one's gut.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Sáng nay tôi uống nước đá nên bây giờ lạnh bụng. (I drank ice water this morning, so now I have a cold stomach.)
- Nghe tin đó, tôi cảm thấy lạnh bụng. (Hearing that news, I felt a chill of apprehension.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used to describe a subjective physical or emotional sensation. It is not typically used to describe external objects (e.g., a cold room).
Variants and Related Words
- Lạnh dạ (adj): A direct synonym with identical meanings, focusing more on the internal organ ("dạ" meaning stomach/bowels).
- Cô ấy lạnh dạ vì lo sợ. (She felt a chill inside because of fear.)
Synonyms
- To have abdominal chills: For the physical symptom.
- To have a sinking feeling / a sense of dread: For the emotional foreboding.
Related Idioms
- While "lạnh bụng" itself is idiomatic, it is related to the concept of physical sensations representing emotional states, similar to the English "butterflies in one's stomach" (though that indicates nervousness, not coldness).