sọm sẹm

Thân thiện

Ông cụ trông thật sọm sẹm sau trận ốm dài.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Decrepit, emaciated: Describes a person or animal that is extremely thin, weak, and in poor physical condition, often due to old age, illness, or hardship. It implies a state of being worn out and frail.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông cụ ấy trông thật sọm sẹm sau trận ốm. (That old man looks so emaciated after his illness.)
  • Con chó hoang sọm sẹm đang tìm thức ăn trong thùng rác. (The decrepit stray dog is looking for food in the garbage bin.)
  • Căn nhà sọm sẹm đó sắp đổ. (That decrepit house is about to collapse.)

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively for objects: While primarily describing living beings, "sọm sẹm" can be applied metaphorically to objects (like furniture, buildings, vehicles) to emphasize their dilapidated, worn-out, and broken-down state.
  • Chiếc xe đạp sọm sẹm ấy vẫn là phương tiện duy nhất của anh ta. (That decrepit bicycle is still his only means of transport.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sọm (adj): A shorter, more colloquial form with a similar meaning of being very thin and weak.
  • Người bệnh nằm sọm trên giường. (The sick person lies emaciated on the bed.)
• Teo tóp (adj): Shrivelled, wasted away. A close synonym focusing on the reduction in size and mass.
• Khô héo (adj): Withered, dried up. Often used for plants but can describe a person's gaunt appearance.

Synonyms

• Gầy gò, ốm yếu: Thin and weak.
• Tiều tụy: Haggard, careworn (often from mental or physical suffering).
• Héo hon: Withered, languishing.

Notes on Usage

• Tone and Register: "Sọm sẹm" is a vivid, descriptive adjective. It is somewhat informal and carries a strong visual connotation of pitiful frailty. It is often used in narrative descriptions.
• Context: It is typically used to evoke sympathy or to paint a stark picture of poor health or condition. It is less common in very formal writing.

Học thuật

1. Decrepit, emacitated