Definition

Adjective: - Chubby, plump: Describes a pleasantly round, full, and slightly fat appearance, typically used for babies, young children, or sometimes cute animals, implying health and cuteness. It carries a positive, affectionate connotation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Em bé có đôi má mũm mỉm. (The baby has chubby cheeks.)
  • Nhìn bé mũm mỉm thật đáng yêu. (The baby looks so plump and adorable.)
  • Mèo con mới đẻ trông rất mũm mỉm. (The newborn kitten looks very chubby.)

Advanced Usage

• "mũm mỉm căng tròn": Emphasizes a state of being very full, round, and plump.
  • Những quả đào chín mũm mỉm căng tròn. (The ripe peaches are plump and perfectly round.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mập mạp (adj): Stocky, stout. Often used for children or adults, with a neutral or slightly positive tone, but less focused on cuteness than "mũm mỉm".
• Bầu bĩnh (adj): Plump, chubby. Very similar to "mũm mỉm," often used interchangeably for cheeks, faces, or limbs.
• Ú na ú nần (adj, idiomatic): Very chubby and cute, often used in a playful, rhyming manner for babies.

Synonyms

• Chubby: (of a person, especially a child) having a rounded, plump appearance.
• Plump: Having a full, rounded shape.
• Rotund: (Often humorous) round and fat.

Notes on Meaning

• Positive Connotation: "Mũm mỉm" is almost exclusively positive and endearing. It is not used as a criticism.
• Typical Subjects: Primarily used for babies, young children, and sometimes for cute animals (puppies, kittens) or certain fruits/objects described metaphorically for their roundness.
• Not for Adults: It is uncommon and potentially impolite to use "mũm mỉm" to describe an adult's physique, as it might sound infantilizing. Words like "đầy đặn" (full-figured) or "tròn trĩnh" (rounded) are more appropriate for adults.

1. Chubby, plump (nói về trẻ em)
   • Thằng bé trông rất mũm mỉm
     The baby looks very chubby