sầm sẫm
Definition
- Adjective:
- Dark, dusky, dim: Describes a color, light condition, or atmosphere that is very dark, gloomy, or lacking in brightness. It often implies a deep, somber, or oppressive darkness.
- Swarthy, dark-complexioned: Used to describe a person's skin tone as being very dark or tanned.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Trời sầm sẫm lại trước cơn mưa. (The sky turned dark and gloomy before the rain.)
- Căn phòng không đèn, mọi thứ trông sầm sẫm. (The room had no lights; everything looked dim.)
- Anh ấy có làn da sầm sẫm vì làm việc ngoài đồng. (He has swarthy skin from working in the fields.)
Advanced Usage
- "sầm sẫm mặt mày": to have a dark, gloomy, or angry countenance.
- Nghe tin xấu, ông ấy sầm sẫm mặt mày. (Hearing the bad news, his face turned dark and gloomy.)
Variants and Related Words
Sẫm (adj): dark, deep (in color). A simpler or more general form.
- Màu xanh sẫm (dark blue)
Sầm sập (adv/adj): describes a heavy, continuous, and sudden sound or action (like heavy rain or collapsing), often confused with "sầm sẫm" due to similar sound but different meaning.
- Mưa rơi sầm sập. (The rain fell heavily and continuously.)
Synonyms
- Dark: having very little light.
- Dusky: shadowy, dim, or dark in color.
- Swarthy: having a dark complexion.
- Gloomy: dark or poorly lit, especially in a way that feels depressing.
Related Idioms
- Sầm sầm sẫm sẫm: a reduplicative form emphasizing the state of being very dark or gloomy.
- Khu rừng sầm sầm sẫm sẫm, đáng sợ. (The forest was deeply dark and gloomy, frightening.)