Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Burning fiercely or blazing: Describes a state where flames are strong, vivid, and intense, often with a sense of vigorous, spreading heat and light.
   • Glowing with intense heat or color: Refers to something emitting a strong, radiant glow, like red-hot metal or a vivid sunset.
   • (Figurative) Flaring up with strong emotion: Used to describe a powerful, surging emotion, such as anger or passion, that feels hot and intense.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ngọn lửa cháy phừng phừng trong lò sưởi. (The fire burned fiercely in the fireplace.)
  • Mặt trời lặn, bầu trời đỏ phừng phừng. (The sun set, the sky glowed a fierce red.)
  • Cơn giận phừng phừng trong lòng anh ta. (Anger flared up intensely within him.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used as an adverb following verbs like "cháy" (to burn), "bốc" (to flare up), or "đỏ" (to be red) to intensify the description of the action or state.
  • Lò rèn bốc lửa phừng phừng. (The forge flared up, blazing intensely.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bừng bừng (adj): A near-synonym meaning blazing or flaring up, often used interchangeably with "phừng phừng" to describe intense heat or emotion.

Synonyms

• Fiercely: in a powerful and intense manner.
• Blazing: burning strongly and brightly.
• Glowing: emitting a steady, strong light or heat.

Related Idioms

• While "phừng phừng" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is the core descriptive element in phrases depicting intense states.
  • Máu nóng phừng phừng: (One's) hot blood is boiling (with intense emotion like anger or excitement).

1. Flame, glow