Definition

1. Adjective (Tính từ):
   • Intensely fragrant, very aromatic: Describes food or floral scents that are exceptionally strong and pleasant. It emphasizes a rich, pervasive, and delightful smell.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Món cà ri tỏa mùi thơm phưng phức. (The curry dish emitted an intensely fragrant aroma.)
  • Hoa nhài nở, hương thơm phưng phức cả khu vườn. (The jasmine flowers bloomed, their very aromatic scent filling the entire garden.)
  • Bánh mì mới ra lò thơm phưng phức. (The freshly baked bread was wonderfully fragrant.)

Advanced Usage

• "thơm phưng phức": This is the most common and natural collocation. The word "phưng phức" is almost exclusively used after the verb "thơm" (to be fragrant) to intensify it.
  • Cô ấy đang nấu ăn, mùi thức ăn thơm phưng phức. (She is cooking, the food smells intensely fragrant.)

Variants and Related Words

• phức (used in reduplicative form): The root in the reduplicative word "phưng phức". By itself, it is archaic and not commonly used in modern Vietnamese outside of this compound.
• thơm ngào ngạt: Another adjective phrase meaning "very fragrant, overpoweringly fragrant." It is a close synonym but can sometimes imply an almost overwhelming scent.
• thơm nức: An adjective phrase meaning "very fragrant," similar to "thơm phưng phức" but potentially slightly less intense or literary.

Synonyms

• thơm ngát: fragrant, sweet-smelling (often for flowers).
• thơm nồng: richly fragrant, warm and strong (often for food, spices).
• thơm lừng: strongly and appetizingly fragrant (typically for food).

Notes on Usage

• "Phưng phức" is a reduplicative word (từ láy). It is informal and vivid, commonly used in spoken language and descriptive writing.
• It carries a positive connotation, describing smells that are appealing and appetizing.
• It is rarely, if ever, used alone. Its standard and correct usage is in the fixed phrase "thơm phưng phức".

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