thèm thuồng
Definition
Verb (Intransitive):
- To crave; to desire intensely: To have a very strong, often physical, longing or yearning for something, typically something pleasurable like food, drink, or an experience.
- To look at with longing: To gaze at something with obvious and eager desire.
Adjective:
- Craving; longing; desirous: Describing a state of intense want or need.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Tôi thèm thuồng một tách cà phê nóng. (I am craving a hot cup of coffee.)
- Đứa trẻ thèm thuồng nhìn vào cửa hàng bánh kẹo. (The child looked longingly into the candy store.)
Adjective:
- Ánh mắt thèm thuồng của anh ấy khi nhìn món ăn. (His craving look when he saw the food.)
Advanced Usage
- "thèm thuồng" often implies a desire that is visible or palpable, stronger and more vivid than the simpler word "thèm". It can suggest a touch of envy or greed.
- Cô ấy kể về chuyến du lịch khiến mọi người nghe thèm thuồng. (She told the story of her trip, making everyone who listened crave it.)
Variants and Related Words
Thèm (v): to want, to crave. This is the root word and is more common and general.
- Tôi thèm ăn phở. (I want to eat pho.)
Thèm muốn (v): to desire, to wish for.
- Anh ta thèm muốn một cuộc sống yên bình. (He desires a peaceful life.)
Synonyms
- Crave: to desire intensely.
- Yearn: to have a strong, often melancholic desire.
- Covet: to desire wrongfully or enviously (stronger, often for possessions).
- Hanker for: to have a restless desire for.
Related Idioms
Thèm chảy nước miếng / thèm rỏ dãi: Literally "to crave until drooling"; to desire something so much it makes your mouth water.
- Mùi bánh mì nướng khiến tôi thèm chảy nước miếng. (The smell of toasted bread made my mouth water.)
Nhìn thèm thuồng: To look at with greedy or longing eyes.
- Đừng nhìn thèm thuồng đồ của người khác như vậy. (Don't look at other people's things with such longing eyes.)