Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To feel a secret joy; to rejoice inwardly: To experience happiness or satisfaction that is kept private and not openly expressed to others. This describes a quiet, internal feeling of pleasure, often about something that has happened or is anticipated.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Cô ấy mừng thầm khi biết tin mình đã đỗ đại học. (She felt a secret joy when she learned she had passed the university entrance exam.)
  • Anh ấy chỉ mừng thầm chứ không dám nói ra vì sợ người khác ghen tị. (He only rejoiced inwardly and didn't dare say it out loud for fear others would be jealous.)
  • Tôi mừng thầm vì kế hoạch của mình đang diễn ra suôn sẻ. (I rejoiced inwardly because my plan was proceeding smoothly.)

Advanced Usage

• "mừng thầm trong bụng": to be secretly pleased (literally: to rejoice secretly in one's stomach). This is a common reinforcing phrase.
  • Nghe tin ấy, anh ta mừng thầm trong bụng. (Upon hearing that news, he was secretly pleased.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mừng (v): to be happy, to celebrate, to rejoice (a general term for expressing joy).

  • Cả gia đình mừng cho thành công của anh ấy. (The whole family rejoiced at his success.)

• Thầm (adv/adj): secretly, silently, inward. Often used to describe actions or feelings kept private.

  • Anh thầm yêu cô ấy từ lâu. (He has secretly loved her for a long time.)

Synonyms

• Vui thầm: to be secretly happy/pleased. This is a very close synonym with almost identical meaning and usage.
• Mừng rỡ (trong lòng): to be delighted (in one's heart). This implies a stronger, more exuberant internal joy.

Related Phrases

• Giấu cảm xúc: to hide/conceal one's emotions.

  • Cô ấy mừng thầm nhưng vẫn cố giấu cảm xúc. (She felt a secret joy but still tried to hide her emotions.)

• Nở mày nở mặt (một cách thầm kín): to feel proud and honored (in a secret way). This idiom relates to feeling a secret pride that enhances one's status.

  • Thấy con thi đỗ, bà mẹ mừng thầm, cảm thấy nở mày nở mặt. (Seeing her child pass the exam, the mother rejoiced inwardly, feeling proud and honored.)

1. Feel a secret joy; rejoice inwardly