Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly uncomfortable or irritated: Describes a mild, nagging feeling of discomfort, annoyance, or vexation, often internal and not acute.
   • Slightly sore or aching: Refers to a dull, persistent, and low-grade physical discomfort, often felt internally, as if being pressed or constricted.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy cảm thấy tức tức trong lòng sau cuộc tranh cãi. (He felt slightly irritated in his heart after the argument.)
  • Tôi thấy tức tức ở bụng sau khi ăn. (I feel a slight ache in my stomach after eating.)
  • Cô ấy có cảm giác tức tức khó chịu ở ngực. (She has an uncomfortable, slightly constricted feeling in her chest.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tức tức" is a reduplicative form (lặp từ) of the base adjective "tức" (angry, stifled, sore). The repetition softens the intensity, indicating a lesser degree. It describes a lingering, subdued sensation rather than a sharp or severe one.

Variants and Related Words

• Tức (adj): angry, indignant, stifled, sore (stronger in intensity than "tức tức").

  • Anh ấy rất tức vì bị đối xử bất công. (He is very angry because of the unfair treatment.)

• Tức giận (adj): angry, furious.

  • Đừng tức giận như vậy. (Don't be so angry.)

• Tức thở (adj): breathless, feeling suffocated (often from strong emotion).

  • Tin đó làm bà ấy tức thở. (That news made her feel suffocated with emotion.)

Synonyms

• Annoyed: slightly angry or irritated.
• Vexed: caused to feel slight annoyance.
• Aching: a continuous dull pain.
• Niggling: causing slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.

Related Idioms

• Tức nước vỡ bờ: Literally "stifled water breaks the bank"; meaning pent-up emotions or pressure will eventually explode.
  • Anh ấy im lặng mãi, tức nước vỡ bờ nên hôm nay mới lớn tiếng. (He was silent for too long; the dam finally broke so he raised his voice today.)