sôi sùng sục
Definition
- Adjective (Descriptive phrase):
- Boiling violently / bubbling furiously: Describes a liquid, typically water, that is boiling with intense, rapid, and noisy bubbles.
- Seething / raging (figurative): Describes an intense, barely contained emotional state, such as anger, hatred, or excitement, that feels like it is bubbling over.
Usage Examples
- Literal (liquid):
- Nồi nước sôi sùng sục trên bếp. (The pot of water was boiling violently on the stove.)
- Figurative (emotion):
- Lòng căm thù sôi sùng sục trong tim anh ta. (Hatred seethed furiously in his heart.)
- Đám đông sôi sùng sục phản đối. (The crowd was seething with protest.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used as a vivid intensifier for the verb "sôi" (to boil). The phrase "sùng sục" is a reduplicative that mimics the sound and vigorous action of boiling, adding emphasis.
- It can describe a situation of intense activity or agitation.
- Cuộc tranh luận sôi sùng sục. (The debate was heated and furious.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sôi (v): to boil.
- Nước đang sôi. (The water is boiling.)
- Sôi sục (adj): boiling, seething. A slightly less intense form of "sôi sùng sục".
- Cơn giận sôi sục. (Seething anger.)
- Sùng sục (onomatopoeic): the repetitive, bubbling sound of vigorous boiling.
Synonyms
- Boiling over: for liquids.
- Seething: for emotions.
- Raging: for intense feelings or activity.
- Bubbling furiously: descriptive synonym.
Related Idioms
- While not a standalone idiom, the phrase is frequently used in expressions like "sôi sùng sục lên" (to boil over with rage).
- Nghe tin đó, anh ấy sôi sùng sục lên. (Hearing that news, he boiled over with rage.)