Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Dubious; shady; murky: Describes something that is unclear, suspicious, or lacking transparency, often suggesting hidden bad intentions or dishonesty.
   • Obscure; vague: Refers to something that is not clearly defined or understood, creating a sense of doubt or uncertainty.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Vụ làm ăn đó có vẻ rất mờ ám. (That business deal seems very shady.)
  • Anh ta có một quá khứ mờ ám. (He has a murky past.)
  • Những lời giải thích mờ ám của họ khiến mọi người nghi ngờ. (Their vague explanations made people suspicious.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract concepts like motives, affairs, or situations where the truth is intentionally concealed or difficult to discern.
  • Bầu không khí chính trị mờ ám. (A murky political atmosphere.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mờ mịt (adj): Dim, obscure; often used for physical darkness or a hopeless situation.

  • Tương lai mờ mịt. (A bleak future.)

• Ám muội (adj): Sinister, dark, and foolish; implies evil and stupid secrecy.

  • Âm mưu ám muội. (A sinister plot.)

Synonyms

• Shady: Of questionable honesty or legality.
• Murky: Dark and gloomy, especially due to mist or dirt; obscure and complicated.
• Dubious: Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon.

Related Idioms

• Mờ ám như bóng ma: As shady as a ghost; used to emphasize extreme secrecy and suspiciousness.

  • Câu chuyện ấy mờ ám như bóng ma, không ai hiểu thực hư. (That story is as shady as a ghost; no one understands the truth.)

• Chuyện mờ ám dưới gầm trời: A shady affair under the sky; implies a scandal or dubious matter that exists openly yet is not clear.

  • Ai cũng biết đến chuyện mờ ám dưới gầm trời ấy. (Everyone knows about that shady affair under the sky.)

1. Dubious
   • Đưa một chuyện mờ ám ra ánh sáng
     To bring to light a dubious affair