Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Confined, trapped, or restricted: Describes a state of being physically or metaphorically imprisoned, limited, or held in a place or situation with no freedom or means of escape.
   • Stagnant: Used to describe air, water, or an atmosphere that is stale, motionless, and lacking circulation or freshness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cuộc sống tù hãm trong căn phòng nhỏ khiến cô ấy buồn chán. (The confined life in the small room made her depressed.)
  • Căn phòng đầy không khí tù hãm. (The room was full of stagnant air.)
  • Họ cảm thấy tù hãm trong những quy tắc khắt khe đó. (They felt trapped by those strict rules.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tù hãm" often carries a strong negative connotation, implying not just physical restriction but also psychological oppression, a sense of being stifled, and a lack of progress or development.

Variants and Related Words

• Tù túng (adj): cramped, restricted, lacking freedom. Often used interchangeably with but can sometimes imply a slightly less severe or more temporary state of constraint.
  • Căn hộ này hơi tù túng. (This apartment is a bit cramped.)

Synonyms

• Confined: Limited within bounds; restricted.
• Stagnant: Not flowing or moving; stale.
• Trapped: Caught and held in a confined space or situation.
• Oppressive: Uncomfortably overwhelming or stifling.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Sống tù hãm: To live a confined/impoverished life.
  • Ông ấy sống tù hãm trong quá khứ. (He lives confined by the past.)
• Bầu không khí tù hãm: A stifling/oppressive atmosphere.
  • Bầu không khí tù hãm của văn phòng cũ đã biến mất. (The stifling atmosphere of the old office has disappeared.)

adj

1. confined