sắc lẹm
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely sharp or keen: Describes a blade, edge, or point that is honed to a fine, acute sharpness, often implying a dangerous or effective cutting quality.
- Sharp, biting, or incisive: Used figuratively to describe words, wit, or criticism that is penetrating, harsh, and cutting.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Lưỡi dao này sắc lẹm. (This knife blade is extremely sharp.)
- Anh ta có lời nói sắc lẹm. (He has sharp, biting words.)
- Mũi tên sắc lẹm xuyên qua lá chắn. (The keen arrowhead pierced through the shield.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "sắc lẹm" is often used in a comparative or emphatic sense to denote a degree of sharpness beyond the standard adjective "sắc" (sharp). It carries a connotation of precision and potential severity.
Variants and Related Words
- Sắc (adj): Sharp, keen. The root adjective without the emphatic intensity.
- Sắc bén (adj): Sharp, acute, incisive. Often used interchangeably with "sắc lẹm," especially in figurative contexts for intellect or criticism.
- Lẹm (adj): This standalone word is rarely used in modern Vietnamese except in the compound "sắc lẹm" to intensify the meaning of sharpness.
Synonyms
- Razor-sharp: Having a very sharp edge like a razor.
- Keen: Having a sharp edge or point; also, intellectually acute.
- Biting: Harsh or cutting, especially in speech or tone.
- Incisive: Clear, sharp, and direct, especially in analysis or expression.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Lưỡi sắc lẹm: A "sharp tongue," meaning a tendency to speak in a harsh, critical, or sarcastic manner.
- Cô ấy nổi tiếng với lưỡi sắc lẹm. (She is famous for her sharp tongue.)
- Trí tuệ sắc lẹm: Incisive or keen intellect.
- Nhà phê bình có trí tuệ sắc lẹm. (The critic has an incisive intellect.)