rầu
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Sad, sorrowful, dejected: "Rầu" describes a state of inner sadness, melancholy, or low spirits, often felt deeply and internally. It implies a quiet, lingering sorrow rather than intense, temporary grief.
- Worried, troubled: It can also convey a sense of being troubled, distressed, or weighed down by thoughts or circumstances.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Nghe tin ấy, lòng tôi thấy rầu. (Hearing that news, my heart felt sad.)
- Cô ấy ngồi một mình trông rầu rĩ. (She sat alone looking dejected.)
- Nghĩ đến chuyện tương lai mà rầu. (Thinking about the future makes me worried/sad.)
Advanced Usage
"Rầu rĩ": A common reduplicative form that intensifies the feeling of sadness and dejection, often describing a visible demeanor.
- Khuôn mặt anh ấy lúc nào cũng rầu rĩ. (His face always looks sorrowful.)
"Rầu thối ruột" (colloquial): An idiom meaning to be extremely sad, worried, or distressed, to the point it feels like it's rotting one's guts.
- Chờ mãi không thấy tin, rầu thối ruột. (Waiting forever without news, I'm worried sick.)
"Con sâu bỏ rầu nồi canh" (idiom): Literally "one maggot makes the whole soup pot sorrowful." It is equivalent to "one bad apple spoils the whole barrel" or "a fly in the ointment," meaning one small negative element can ruin the whole situation or atmosphere.
Variants and Related Words
Buồn rầu (adj): A compound word combining "buồn" (sad) and "rầu," meaning sad and sorrowful.
- Câu chuyện của anh khiến tôi buồn rầu. (Your story made me sad.)
Rầu rầu (adj): A reduplicated form indicating a mild or lingering state of sadness.
- Thời tiết âm u khiến tâm trạng tôi rầu rầu. (The gloomy weather makes my mood a bit down.)
Synonyms
- Buồn: Sad. (Often more general than "rầu," which implies a deeper, more internalized sorrow.)
- Sầu muộn: Melancholy, grief-stricken. (More literary and intense.)
- Chán nản: Discouraged, disheartened. (Focuses more on loss of spirit or interest.)
Related Idioms
- Rầu cả ruột: To be deeply afflicted/saddened.
- Lo lắng cho con, bà ấy rầu cả ruột. (Worrying about her child, she is deeply distressed.)
Notes on Usage
- "Rầu" is primarily used in Southern Vietnamese dialects but is widely understood throughout the country.
- It often describes a state that is both emotional and somewhat physical, affecting one's spirit and demeanor.
- It is commonly used in informal and colloquial speech.