nghe lóm
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To eavesdrop: To listen secretly to a private conversation without the knowledge or consent of the speakers. This is the core meaning of "nghe lóm".
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đứa trẻ nghe lóm câu chuyện của người lớn. (The child eavesdropped on the adults' conversation.)
- Tôi không nên nghe lóm điện thoại của người khác. (I should not eavesdrop on other people's phone calls.)
- Cô ấy bị bắt gặp đang nghe lóm sau cánh cửa. (She was caught eavesdropping behind the door.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "nghe lóm" is considered a regional or dialectal variant, primarily used in Southern Vietnam. The more standard, nationwide term is "nghe lỏm". The two words are identical in meaning and usage.
Variants and Related Words
- Nghe lỏm (v): The standard Vietnamese term for "to eavesdrop".
- Anh ta có thói quen nghe lỏm hàng xóm. (He has a habit of eavesdropping on the neighbors.)
Synonyms
- To eavesdrop: To listen secretly to a private conversation.
- To overhear: To hear something accidentally without intending to listen. (Note: "Overhear" often implies chance, while "nghe lóm" implies intent.)
- To listen in: To listen to a conversation one is not part of, especially on a communication line.
Related Idioms
- Tai vách mạch rừng: Literally "walls have ears, forests have echoes"; equivalent to the English idiom "walls have ears," warning that someone might be eavesdropping.
- Nói khẽ thôi, tai vách mạch rừng đấy. (Speak softly, walls have ears.)
- (địa phương) như nghe lỏm