Definition

1. Verb:

   • To simmer: To cook food slowly in a covered pot with a small amount of liquid, allowing flavors to blend thoroughly.
   • To keep for too long; to delay: (Colloquial) To hold onto something (like a borrowed item) or delay a task for an unreasonably long time.
   • To make a loud, unpleasant noise; to clamor: To be noisy or to create an uproar.

2. Adjective:

   • Very; pitch-: Used as an intensifier before certain adjectives, most commonly "tối" (dark), to mean "pitch-dark" or "very dark."

Usage Examples

• Verb (to simmer):
  • Mẹ tôi thường om thịt với nước dừa. (My mother often simmers meat with coconut water.)
  • Món cá om chuối đậu rất thơm ngon. (The fish simmered with banana and tofu is delicious.)
• Verb (to delay):
  • Anh ấy om quyển sách tôi mượn đã cả tháng rồi. (He has kept the book I lent him for a whole month.)
  • Hồ sơ bị om tại phòng hành chính. (The documents were delayed at the administrative office.)
• Adjective (intensifier):
  • Trong rừng, trời tối om. (In the forest, it is pitch dark.)
  • Căn phòng không đèn tối om như hang. (The room without lights is as dark as a cave.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb form often implies a specific cooking technique (simmering in a clay pot or sealed container) that results in tender, flavorful food.
• The adjectival use as an intensifier is somewhat informal and is primarily combined with "tối" (dark). Other combinations like "" (very hot) are possible but less standard.

Variants and Related Words

• Om sòm (adj/phrase): Very noisy, clamorous, uproarious.
  • Bọn trẻ chơi đùa om sòm cả lên. (The children are playing very noisily.)
• Tiếng om om (n): A continuous, booming, or droning noise.
  • Nghe thấy tiếng om om từ xa. (To hear a droning noise from afar.)

Synonyms

• Simmer: Stew, braise.
• Delay: Procrastinate, hold up.
• Noisy: Loud, clamorous, uproarious.
• Pitch-dark: Completely dark, jet-black.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• La om sòm / Mắng om sòm: To scold or yell at someone very loudly and angrily.
  • Cô giáo mắng om sòm cả lớp. (The teacher yelled loudly at the whole class.)
• Thắc mắc om lên: To raise questions or objections noisily and persistently.
  • Mọi người thắc mắc om lên về quyết định mới. (People raised a noisy fuss about the new decision.)

verb

1. to simmer
   • om cá
     to simmer fish

verb

1. to make a noise

adv

1. very; pitch
   • trời tối om
     it is pitch dark