Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Salty; containing salt: The primary meaning describes the taste of salt or food that contains salt.
   • Savory; containing meat/fish: Used to describe food that contains animal products, as opposed to vegetarian ("chay") food.
   • Deep; profound; intense: Describes feelings, sentiments, or colors that are rich, deep, and strong.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Salty):
  • Nước biển rất mặn. (Seawater is very salty.)
  • Món canh này hơi mặn. (This soup is a bit salty.)
• Adjective (Savory/Non-vegetarian):
  • Nhà hàng đó phục vụ cả đồ mặn lẫn đồ chay. (That restaurant serves both savory [meat] dishes and vegetarian dishes.)
• Adjective (Deep/Intense):
  • Tình cảm của họ ngày càng mặn nồng. (Their feelings for each other grow ever deeper and more ardent.)

Advanced Usage

• "mặn mà": Often used as a reduplicated form to emphasize depth, richness, or warmth, particularly in emotions, style, or flavor.
  • Lời nói của cô ấy rất mặn mà. (Her words are very warm and sincere.)
  • Phong cách diễn xuất mặn mà. (A rich, nuanced acting style.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mặn chát (adj): Unpleasantly salty or bitter-salty; can also describe a harsh, bitter situation.
  • Nỗi đời mặn chát. (The bitterness of life.)
• Đồ mặn (n): Savory food, specifically food containing meat or fish.
• Ăn mặn (v): To eat savory/non-vegetarian food; to have a diet that includes meat.

Synonyms

• Salty: Having the taste of salt.
• Savory: Food that is not sweet, often containing meat (in the Vietnamese context).
• Deep / Profound: Having great intensity or depth (for emotions, colors).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ăn mặn nói ngay hơn ăn chay nói dối: (Proverb) It is better to eat meat and speak truthfully than to be vegetarian and lie. Emphasizes honesty over outward piety.
• Mặn mòi: Describes the strong, pleasant smell of the sea or seafood.
  • Gió biển thổi mặn mòi. (The sea breeze blows with a salty tang.)

adj

1. salt; salty
   • thịt mặn
     salt meat