Definition

1. Noun:

   • Fog: A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface, significantly reducing visibility.
   • Mist / Haze: A less dense atmospheric phenomenon than fog, or a state of unclear perception or confusion.

2. Adjective (figurative):

   • Blurred / Obscured: Used to describe something that is not clear, distinct, or is mentally confusing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (literal):

  • Sáng sớm, sa mù phủ kín cả cánh đồng. (Early in the morning, fog covered the entire field.)
  • Tầm nhìn bị hạn chế vì sa mù dày đặc. (Visibility was limited due to the thick fog.)

• Adjective (figurative):

  • Ký ức của ông ấy về sự kiện đó giờ đã sa mù. (His memory of that event is now blurred.)
  • Những lời hứa đó chỉ là thứ chính trị sa mù. (Those promises are just blurred politics.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in literary or formal contexts to evoke a sense of mystery, obscurity, or melancholy.
• It can describe both physical weather conditions and abstract states of mind, such as confusion, forgetfulness, or unclear thinking.

Variants and Related Words

• Sương mù (n): This is the more common, everyday term for "fog." often carries a more poetic or formal tone.
  • Sương mù buổi sáng thật đẹp. (The morning fog is beautiful.)

Synonyms

• Fog: A thick cloud of water droplets reducing visibility.
• Mist: A less dense collection of water droplets.
• Haze: A slight obscuration of the atmosphere, or a state of vagueness.
• Obscurity: The state of being unknown or unclear.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Trong cơn sa mù: In the fog / In a state of confusion.

  • Anh ấy đưa ra quyết định trong cơn sa mù của cảm xúc. (He made the decision in the fog of his emotions.)

• Xóa tan sa mù: To dispel the fog / To clarify.

  • Báo cáo mới giúp xóa tan sa mù về vụ việc. (The new report helped dispel the fog surrounding the incident.)

1. Fog