TheVietnameseword "ngầm" can be translatedtoEnglish as "secret" or "underground." It is oftenusedtodescribesomethingthat is hidden or notopenlyacknowledged.
BasicMeaning:
Secret: Somethingthat is kepthiddenfrom others.
Underground: Referstosomethingthat is beneaththesurface, eitherliterally (likeunderground tunnels) or figuratively (likeundergroundmovements or groupsthatoperate in secret).
Tacit: This can refertosomethingunderstood or impliedwithoutbeingopenlystated.
Usage Instructions:
"Ngầm" is typicallyused as an adjective. You can use it todescribevarious nouns, such as activities, agreements, or places.
It can be placedbefore a nountospecifythatthenoun is secretive or hidden.
Examples:
Ngầmtrongthỏa thuận (Secret in theagreement): Thisreferstoparts of an agreementthatarenotopenly discussed.
Đườngngầm (Undergroundpath): Thisrefersto a paththat is locatedunderground, such as a tunnel.
Thông tinngầm (Tacitinformation): Thisreferstoinformationthat is understoodbutnotexplicitlystated.
AdvancedUsage:
In a morefigurativesense, "ngầm" can describeunderlyingfeelings or thoughtsthatarenotexpressed. Forexample, "cảm xúcngầm" (underlying emotions) indicatesfeelingsthatarepresentbutnotopenly communicated.
Word Variants:
Ngầmhóa: Tomakesomethingsecret or hidden.
Ngầmngụ: Toimplysomethingwithoutstating it directly.
Different Meanings:
Ngầm can refertosomethingthat is bothphysicallyhidden (likeunderground structures) andmetaphoricallysecretive (likecovertactions or unspoken agreements).
Synonyms:
Bí mật: This is anothercommonVietnamesetermmeaning "secret."
Ẩn: Thismeans "hidden" or "concealed," and can be used in similar contexts.
Lén lút: Thismeans "sneaky" or "stealthy," oftenusedtodescribeactionsdone in a hiddenmanner.