sầm sì
Definition
- Adjective:
- Gloomy and heavy (of weather): Describes a dark, overcast, and oppressive sky, often suggesting an impending storm or heavy rain. It conveys a sense of atmospheric weight and foreboding.
- Sullen or sulky (of facial expression or mood): Used figuratively to describe a person's dark, brooding, or resentful expression, indicating a bad mood, anger, or displeasure.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Weather):
- Trời sầm sì, chắc sắp có mưa to. (The sky is gloomy and heavy; it's probably going to rain heavily.)
- Bầu trời sầm sì cả buổi chiều. (The sky was gloomy and heavy all afternoon.)
- Adjective (Mood/Expression):
- Anh ấy ngồi sầm sì một mình, không nói gì cả. (He sat sullenly by himself, not saying a word.)
- Cô ấy có vẻ mặt sầm sì cả ngày hôm nay. (She has had a sullen look on her face all day today.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used to create a vivid, sensory impression, linking the external environment to a character's internal emotional state in descriptive writing.
Variants and Related Words
- Sầm sập (adv): Describes the sound of heavy, continuous rain or something falling densely and rapidly.
- Mưa rơi sầm sập. (The rain fell in a heavy downpour.)
- Âm u (adj): Gloomy, dim, dull (can describe weather or a place).
- Thời tiết âm u. (Gloomy weather.)
Synonyms
- Gloomy: Partially or totally dark, especially from clouds.
- Overcast: Covered with clouds.
- Sullen: Bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy.
- Morose: Sullen and ill-tempered.
Related Idioms
- Sầm sì như trời sắp giông bão: As gloomy as an impending storm. Used to describe a very dark and threatening sky or a person's extremely angry and dark expression.
- Mặt anh ta sầm sì như trời sắp giông bão. (His face was as dark as an impending storm.)