Definition

1. Verb:
   • To collapse, to fall down: "sụm" describes the action of a structure or object suddenly giving way and falling, often due to weakness, damage, or lack of support. It implies a complete or significant failure of integrity.
   • To slump, to cave in: It can also mean to sink or fall inwards, often in a heavy or uncontrolled manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cây cầu cũ có nguy cơ sụm bất cứ lúc nào. (The old bridge is at risk of collapsing at any moment.)
  • Sau trận động đất, nhiều ngôi nhà đã sụm xuống. (After the earthquake, many houses collapsed.)
  • Anh ấy mệt đến nỗi người sụm xuống ghế. (He was so tired that he slumped into the chair.)

Advanced Usage

• "sụm xuống": to collapse down, to fall down heavily.
  • Bức tường sụm xuống chỉ sau một tiếng nổ. (The wall collapsed down just after an explosion.)
• Used figuratively to describe extreme fatigue or a sudden loss of spirit, similar to "to be broken" or "to be worn out".
  • Sau tin đó, tinh thần cô ấy sụm hẳn. (After that news, her spirits collapsed completely.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sụp (verb): to collapse, to fall in. Often used interchangeably with "sụm", though "sụp" can sometimes imply a broader or more dramatic fall.
• Sập (verb): to collapse, to cave in. Commonly used for buildings or structures.
• Đổ sụm (verb phrase): to collapse and fall down completely.
  • Căn nhà kho đổ sụm sau cơn bão. (The warehouse collapsed completely after the storm.)

Synonyms

• Sụp đổ: to collapse, to fall down (often for structures or systems).
• Đổ: to fall, to collapse.
• Gục ngã: to fall down (often for a person, implying exhaustion or defeat).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Làm sụm: to cause to collapse.
  • Chấn động đã làm sụm nhiều tòa nhà. (The tremor caused many buildings to collapse.)

Related Idioms

• Mệt sụm: extremely tired, worn out (literally: tired to the point of collapse).
  • Làm việc cả ngày, tôi mệt sụm. (Working all day, I am dead tired.)
• Già sụm: very old, decrepit (literally: old to the point of collapse).
  • Cụ ông đã già sụm nhưng tinh thần vẫn minh mẫn. (The old man is very aged but still sharp-minded.)

verb

1. to collapse, to fall over