sa sầm
Definition
- Verb:
- To cloud over, to darken: Refers to the act of suddenly becoming overcast or gloomy, typically used to describe the sky or weather.
- To become gloomy, to darken (of facial expression): Describes a person's face suddenly turning gloomy, sullen, or dark due to sadness, disappointment, or anger.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Bầu trời đang nắng bỗng nhiên sa sầm lại. (The sunny sky suddenly clouded over.)
- Nghe tin không đỗ đại học, mặt anh ấy sa sầm hẳn. (Upon hearing the news of failing the university entrance exam, his face darkened/grew gloomy.)
- Cô ấy không nói gì, chỉ ngồi đó với khuôn mặt sa sầm. (She didn't say anything, just sat there with a sullen/darkened expression.)
Advanced Usage
- Used figuratively to describe atmosphere or mood: Can describe a general atmosphere becoming heavy, oppressive, or gloomy.
- Không khí trong phòng sa sầm sau cuộc tranh cãi. (The atmosphere in the room turned gloomy after the argument.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sầm mặt (verb): To scowl, to pull a long face (often due to anger). This is a close synonym but implies a quicker, more irritated reaction.
- Ông ấy sầm mặt khi thấy báo cáo. (He scowled when he saw the report.)
- Âm u (adjective): Gloomy, overcast, dull (used for weather or atmosphere). This describes a state, not a sudden change.
- Thời tiết âm u cả ngày. (The weather was gloomy all day.)
- U ám (adjective): Gloomy, dismal, bleak. Often used for situations or prospects.
- Tương lai trông thật u ám. (The future looks bleak.)
Synonyms
- Tối sầm lại: To darken suddenly.
- Xịu mặt xuống: To pull a long face, to look sullen (more colloquial).
- Rầu rĩ: To look sorrowful, distressed (focuses more on sadness than sudden darkening).
Related Idioms
- Mặt sa sầm như trời sắp mưa: Literally "a face as dark as the sky before rain." Used to vividly describe someone's extremely gloomy or angry expression.
- Nghe tin đó, mặt anh ta sa sầm như trời sắp mưa. (Hearing that news, his face darkened as if the sky was about to rain.)
verb
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to cloud over
