Definition

Adjective (reduplicative form of "nhũn"): - Extremely soft, mushy, or pulpy to the point of losing structural integrity: Describes a state where something is overly ripe, overcooked, or decomposed, resulting in a texture that is unpleasantly soft and formless.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Trái chuối này chín quá, đã nhũn nhùn rồi. (This banana is too ripe; it has become mushy.)
  • Rau luộc lâu quá nên nhũn nhùn hết. (The vegetables are boiled for too long, so they've all turned to mush.)
  • Đất sau cơn mưa nhũn nhùn, rất khó đi. (The ground after the rain is soggy and soft, making it hard to walk.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhũn nhùn như bột": as soft as dough; used to emphasize an extreme state of mushiness.
  • Khoai lang hấp lâu quá, nhũn nhùn như bột. (The steamed sweet potato is overcooked, as soft as dough.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhũn (adj): The root word meaning soft, mushy, yielding under pressure.
  • Củ khoai bị nhũn một bên. (The potato is soft/mushy on one side.)
• Nhũn nhặn (adj): A different reduplicative form meaning modest, humble, gentle (in demeanor). CRITICAL NOTE: This is a distinct word with a completely different meaning (personality trait), not a variant describing physical texture.

Synonyms

• Nát: crushed, mashed, broken into pieces (often implies a result of force).
• Bở: crumbly, easily broken apart (often used for cooked food like meat or potatoes).
• Ọp ẹp (colloquial): flabby, not firm.

Antonyms

• Rắn chắc: firm, solid.
• Giòn: crispy, crunchy.
• Cứng: hard.

Notes on Usage

• "Nhũn nhùn" is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of the adjective "nhũn". Reduplication in Vietnamese often intensifies the meaning of the root word. Therefore, "nhũn nhùn" describes a more extreme, complete, or unpleasant state of softness/mushiness than "nhũn" alone.
• It almost always carries a negative connotation, describing an undesirable texture in food, soil, or other materials.
• It is primarily used in spoken and descriptive language.

1. xem nhũn (láy)