Definition

1. Noun:

   • The south-easterly wind: A wind that blows from the southeast, characteristic of Vietnam's climate, especially in the northern and central regions.
   • Humid, damp weather condition: The state of high humidity and dampness, often caused by or associated with the south-easterly wind.

2. Adjective:

   • Humid, muggy, damp: Describes weather, air, or surfaces that are unpleasantly moist and sticky due to high atmospheric moisture, typically brought by the nồm wind.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Trời đang có gió nồm. (The south-easterly wind is blowing.)
  • Mùa này hay có nồm. (This season often has the south-easterly wind/humid spells.)

• Adjective:

  • Thời tiết hôm nay thật nồm. (The weather is very humid today.)
  • Sàn nhà bị ẩm nồm. (The floor is damp and sticky.)

Advanced Usage

• "trời nồm": a common phrase describing the typical humid, damp weather condition.

  • Mùa xuân, trời nồm khiến quần áo lâu khô. (In spring, the humid weather makes clothes take a long time to dry.)

• "gió nồm": specifically refers to the south-easterly wind itself.

  • Gió nồm thổi mang theo hơi ẩm từ biển. (The south-easterly wind blows, carrying moisture from the sea.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nồm ẩm (compound adjective): humid and damp. Often used to emphasize the sticky, moist condition.

  • Không khí nồm ẩm khó chịu. (The humid and damp air is uncomfortable.)

• Ẩm (adj): damp, moist. A more general term for moisture, which is a key component of nồm.

Synonyms

• Ẩm ướt (adj): wet, damp.
• Oi bức (adj): sultry, stifling (often hot and humid, while can be cooler).
• Ẩm thấp (adj): damp, humid (literary or formal).

Related Phrases

• Trời nổi nồm: The humid weather sets in.
  • Chớm xuân là trời lại nổi nồm. (At the start of spring, the humid weather sets in again.)

Related Idioms

• Nồm nam, bấc bắc: A proverb referring to the (south-easterly) and (north-easterly) winds. It signifies the two main seasonal wind patterns or can imply things going in their proper, expected directions.
  • Thời tiết thuận hòa, đúng là nồm nam bấc bắc. (The weather is favorable, just as the winds blow true to season.)

1. South-easterly (wind)
2. Humid
   • Trời hôm nay nồm
     It is humid today