nùng nục
Definition
- Adjective:
- Swollen, bulging: Describes something that is distended, puffed up, or appears full and tight, often due to internal pressure, heat, or growth. It can refer to physical objects, body parts, or even abstract feelings.
- Plump, chubby: Used affectionately to describe a baby, child, or someone with a cute, full, and round physique.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Bé sơ sinh có đôi má nùng nục. (The newborn baby has chubby, plump cheeks.)
- Cái bánh bao hấp lên trông nùng nục. (The steamed bun looks swollen and puffy.)
- Anh ta tức giận, ngực nùng nục lên. (He was angry, his chest was heaving.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used in descriptive, literary, or colloquial contexts to create a vivid image of roundness, fullness, or protrusion. It carries a connotation of something being appealingly or noticeably full.
Variants and Related Words
- Nục: A root component sometimes seen alone, also relating to being swollen or thick.
- Phình ra (v): to swell out, to bulge.
- Căng tròn (adj): round and tight, plump.
Synonyms
- Chubby: Slightly fat in a pleasant way (especially for children).
- Plump: Having a full, rounded shape.
- Swollen: Enlarged or puffed up, typically from pressure or fluid.
- Bulging: Curving outward; protruding.
Related Idioms
- Nùng nục như bánh bao: As plump as a steamed bun. Used to describe someone, often a child, who is very round and cute.
- Em bé mới sinh được vài tháng, trông nùng nục như bánh bao. (The baby is only a few months old and looks as plump as a steamed bun.)