Definition

Adjective: - Intensely fragrant, overwhelmingly aromatic: Describes a smell, especially a pleasant one, that is very strong, pervasive, and fills the air completely.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Mùi hoa nhài trong vườn thơm ngào ngạt. (The scent of jasmine in the garden is intensely fragrant.)
  • Căn phòng ngào ngạt mùi bánh mới ra lò. (The room is filled with the overwhelming aroma of freshly baked bread.)
  • Không khí buổi sáng ở nông thôn ngào ngạt hương cỏ. (The morning air in the countryside is richly fragrant with the scent of grass.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ngào ngạt hương thơm": This is a common, almost fixed, poetic collocation meaning "overflowing with fragrance."
  • Mùa xuân, khu vườn ngào ngạt hương thơm. (In spring, the garden is overflowing with fragrance.)
• Used to describe abstract, pleasant atmospheres in a literary sense.
  • Bầu không khí ngày hội ngào ngạt tình người. (The festival's atmosphere was saturated with human warmth.) (Note: This is a figurative, literary extension.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngạt (verb): To suffocate, to be stifled. While "ngào ngạt" describes a pleasant, strong smell, "ngạt" on its own relates to difficulty breathing. They share the root implying intensity that fills the senses.
• Thơm ngát (adjective): Very fragrant, aromatic. A close synonym, though "ngào ngạt" often implies a greater intensity and pervasiveness.
• Nồng nàn (adjective): Ardent, passionate; can also describe a strong, deep fragrance (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Thơm nức: (idiomatic) Smelling wonderfully fragrant.
• Thơm phức: (idiomatic) Giving off a strong, delicious smell (often used for food).
• Pungent: (English) Having a sharply strong taste or smell.
• Aromatic: (English) Having a pleasant and distinctive smell.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: Almost exclusively describes strong, pleasant smells (scents, aromas, fragrances). It is not used for neutral or bad odors.
• Figurative Use: In literary contexts, it can be used metaphorically to describe an atmosphere saturated with a positive quality (e.g., joy, love, springtime).

verb

1. to erhale