Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Perfectly flat, smooth as glass: Describes a surface that is extremely level, without any bumps, waves, or roughness. It emphasizes an ideal, unblemished flatness.
   • Figuratively, completely calm or expressionless: Can describe a state of being utterly calm, still, or a face that shows no emotion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con đường mới trải nhựa phẳng lì. (The newly asphalted road is perfectly smooth.)
  • Mặt hồ phẳng lì như một tấm gương khổng lồ. (The lake's surface is smooth as glass, like a giant mirror.)
  • Anh ấy giữ khuôn mặt phẳng lì dù bên trong rất lo lắng. (He kept his face completely expressionless even though he was very anxious inside.)

Advanced Usage

• "phẳng lặng": This is a close variant, often used to describe water surfaces that are calm and smooth.
  • Mặt biển phẳng lặng vào buổi sáng. (The sea surface was calm and smooth in the morning.)
• "phẳng phiu": This adjective also means smooth and flat, often implying neatness and tidiness, and can be used for fabrics or surfaces.
  • Tấm vải được là phẳng phiu. (The fabric was ironed smooth and neat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phẳng (adj): Flat, level. This is the root word. "Phẳng lì" intensifies the meaning of "phẳng."
• Bằng phẳng (adj): Even, level (often for terrain or roads).
• Lì (adj, in this context): This word adds the meaning of being unyielding, stubborn, or in the case of "phẳng lì," it intensifies the flatness to mean "unbroken" or "perfect."

Synonyms

• Bằng: Flat, level.
• Nhẵn: Smooth (often to the touch).
• Trơn láng: Very smooth and slippery.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Phẳng như tờ giấy": (As flat as a sheet of paper) - An idiom emphasizing perfect flatness.
  • Cánh đồng sau khi gặt phẳng như tờ giấy. (The field after harvesting was as flat as a sheet of paper.)
• "Mặt phẳng lì không một gợn sóng": (A surface smooth as glass without a single ripple) - A descriptive phrase for ultimate calmness and smoothness.

adj

1. smooth as glass