Definition

1. Onomatopoeic Adverb:
   • With smacking sounds: Describes the distinct, repetitive sound made by someone chewing or eating something crunchy, crispy, or particularly enjoyable with gusto. It implies a sense of relish and audible pleasure.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Đứa bé ăn bánh quy tem tép. (The child ate the biscuit with smacks.)
  • Nghe nó nhai khoai tây chiên tem tép mà thèm. (Listening to him eat potato chips with smacking sounds makes me crave some.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is almost exclusively used to modify verbs related to eating and chewing, such as "nhai" (to chew), "ăn" (to eat), or "gặm" (to gnaw). It vividly paints an auditory picture of the action.

Variants and Related Words

• Tóp tép (onomatopoeic adverb): A very similar onomatopoeic word also describing the sound of chewing something crispy, often used interchangeably with "tem tép."

Synonyms

• With a crunch: Emphasizing the sound of breaking something crisp.
• Smackingly: Chewing in a way that produces audible, pleasurable sounds.

Related Idioms

• While "tem tép" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, it is commonly used in the descriptive phrase "nhai tem tép" meaning "to chew with loud, enjoyable smacking sounds."
  • Cả phòng chỉ nghe tiếng nó nhai tem tép. (The whole room could only hear him chewing smackingly.)

adv

1. with smacks