Definition

1. Adjective (Tính từ):
   • Extremely crowded; packed; teeming: Describes a place or space that is filled with an extremely large number of people or things, to the point of being dense and overflowing.

Usage

• "Nghìn nghịt" is a láy (reduplicative) word derived from "nghịt," intensifying its meaning. It is used to emphasize an overwhelming, dense, and massive level of crowding.
• It is primarily used to describe places (streets, halls, markets) or spaces filled with people. It can also be used for a dense concentration of objects.
• This word has a vivid, descriptive tone and is common in both spoken and written Vietnamese.

Usage Examples

• Describing a crowd of people:
  • Đường phố nghìn nghịt người đi chơi Tết. (The streets are extremely packed with people going out for the Lunar New Year.)
  • Sân vận động nghìn nghịt cổ động viên. (The stadium is teeming with fans.)
• Describing a dense collection of objects:
  • Bầu trời nghìn nghịt sao đêm. (The night sky is densely packed with stars.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nghìn nghịt" often appears in descriptive and literary contexts to paint a strong visual image of density and abundance.
• It can be combined with words specifying the thing that is crowded:
  • nghìn nghịt người (teeming with people)
  • nghìn nghịt xe cộ (jam-packed with vehicles)
  • nghìn nghịt hàng quán (overflowing with stalls and shops)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghịt (adj/verb): To be blocked, clogged, or crowded. "Nghìn nghịt" is the intensified form.
  • Cổ họng nghịt lại. (The throat is clogged.)
  • Đường nghịt xe. (The road is jammed with traffic.)
• Chen chúc (verb): To jostle and squeeze in a crowd.
• Đông nghẹt (adj): Synonymous with "nghìn nghịt," meaning extremely crowded and choked.

Synonyms

• Đông đúc: Crowded, populous.
• Chật ních / Chật cứng: Packed tight, crammed full.
• Chen chúc: (Describes the action within a) jostling crowd.
• Tấp nập: Bustling, busy (often with movement).

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning is extreme density and overcrowding. While similar to "đông đúc" (crowded), "nghìn nghịt" implies a higher, almost suffocating level of density.
• It does not typically describe abstract concepts like "a thousand thoughts"; it is used for tangible, visible crowding.

1. xem nghịt (láy)