Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Very rough, extremely coarse: Describes a surface or texture that is not smooth at all; having a harsh, abrasive feel. This word emphasizes a high degree of roughness.

Usage

• This word is primarily used to describe the physical texture of an object's surface.
• It is a dialectal word (địa phương), meaning it is commonly used in specific regional dialects of Vietnamese and may sound informal or local to speakers from other regions.
• It is typically used in descriptive contexts, often for tangible objects.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Giấy nhám này nhám sì quá, chà vào dễ bị trầy da. (This sandpaper is very rough; rubbing it can easily scratch the skin.)
  • Bề mặt bức tường cũ nhám sì khi chạm vào. (The surface of the old wall feels extremely coarse to the touch.)
  • Vải bố thường có cảm giác nhám sì. (Canvas fabric often has a very rough feel.)

Advanced Usage / Nuances

• The word "sì" acts as an intensifier, similar to "very" or "extremely" in English, combined with "nhám" (rough). Therefore, "nhám sì" is stronger than just "nhám".
• It can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe something unrefined or harsh in character, though this is less common than its literal use for texture.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhám (adj): Rough, coarse. The standard, less intense form.
  • Da anh ấy nhám vì phơi nắng nhiều. (His skin is rough from too much sun exposure.)
• Gồ ghề (adj): Uneven, rugged. Often used for landscapes or surfaces with bumps and dips, not necessarily abrasive.
  • Con đường gồ ghề. (The rugged road.)
• Sần sùi (adj): Bumpy, knobbly. Describes a surface with many small, hard raised areas.
  • Vỏ cây sần sùi. (The bumpy tree bark.)

Synonyms

• Rất nhám: Very rough (a more standard way to express the same idea).
• Xù xì: Rough, shaggy. Often used for surfaces that are both rough and irregular.
• Thô ráp: Coarse, rough (a formal synonym).

Antonyms

• Trơn láng: Smooth, glossy.
• Mịn màng: Smooth, silky.
• Nhẵn: Smooth, even.

1. (địa phương) Very rough