Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mouthful: A small amount of liquid that is taken into the mouth at one time, typically just enough to fill the mouth comfortably.
   • A gulp / a draught: A single act of swallowing a mouthful of a drink; can imply a larger or quicker swallow than a simple mouthful.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy uống một ngụm nước lớn. (He took a large gulp of water.)
  • Cô ấy nếm từng ngụm rượu vang một. (She tasted each mouthful of wine.)
  • Hãy uống một ngụm trà cho ấm bụng. (Have a mouthful of tea to warm your stomach.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "ngụm" is almost exclusively used for liquids (water, tea, coffee, alcohol, soup). It is not used for solid food.
• It often appears with verbs like "uống" (to drink), "nốc" (to chug, informal), or "nếm" (to taste).
• It can be used figuratively to describe absorbing something non-physical in small, measured amounts.
  • Anh ấy hấp thụ kiến thức từng ngụm một. (He absorbed knowledge in small gulps.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hớp (n): A sip; a very small mouthful, often taken cautiously or to taste.
  • Cậu bé hớp một ngụm sữa nóng. (The boy took a sip of hot milk.)
• Ngụm nước (n phrase): A mouthful of water; a common collocation.

Synonyms

• Mouthful: The most direct equivalent, emphasizing the volume that fits in the mouth.
• Gulp: Emphasizes the action of swallowing, often quickly or in large amount.
• Draught / Draft: A single act of drinking, often a deep or long one.
• Sip: A synonym for a very small mouthful, though "hớp" is closer.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Uống từng ngụm một: To drink sip by sip / to drink in small mouthfuls.
  • Ông cụ ngồi uống trà từng ngụm một. (The old man sat drinking tea sip by sip.)
• Một ngụm khí trời: A breath of fresh air (literal); sometimes used metaphorically.
  • Ra ngoài hít một ngụm khí trời cho tỉnh táo. (Go outside for a breath of fresh air to clear your head.)

1. Mouthful, gulp, draught
   • Uống từng ngụm nước chè một
     To drink tea in mouthfuls (gulps)