Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Pitch-dark / Completely dark: Describes an extreme level of darkness where visibility is nearly or completely absent.
   • Figuratively, unclear or ignorant: Can describe a state of being completely in the dark about a situation or topic, lacking understanding or information.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Trong rừng, trời tối mò như mực. (In the forest, it was pitch-dark.)
  • Đường hầm này tối mò, cần có đèn pin. (This tunnel is completely dark; a flashlight is needed.)
  • Về vụ án đó, cảnh sát vẫn còn tối mò. (Regarding that case, the police are still completely in the dark.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to intensify the state of darkness or ignorance, often in a vivid or slightly dramatic way.
  • Căn phòng chẳng có cửa sổ, tối mò luôn. (The room has no windows; it's perpetually pitch-black.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tối om (adj): Also means very dark, pitch-black. A close synonym.

  • Nhà kho tối om, chẳng thấy gì. (The warehouse is pitch-black; you can't see anything.)

• Tối thui (adj): Another colloquial term for extreme darkness.

  • Mất điện, cả phố tối thui. (The power is out; the whole street is in utter darkness.)

Synonyms

• Pitch-black: Completely dark.
• Inky darkness: A literary synonym for profound darkness.
• Clueless: (For the figurative sense) Having no knowledge or understanding.

Related Idioms

• Tối mò tối mịt: An intensified form meaning "completely and utterly dark," often used for emphasis.
  • Trời mưa, đường về quê tối mò tối mịt. (It was raining, and the road back to my hometown was in total darkness.)