tiềm
Definition
- Verb (archaic/regional):
- To dive; to submerge: The primary meaning of "tiềm" is to go or remain under the surface of water. This usage is now considered archaic or dialectal in modern Vietnamese.
- To hide; to conceal: By extension, it can mean to hide oneself or something, often with the connotation of being submerged or deeply concealed.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Con rùa tiềm xuống đáy hồ. (The turtle dived to the bottom of the pond.)
- Bí mật ấy đã tiềm sâu trong quá khứ. (That secret has been deeply submerged in the past.)
Advanced Usage
- This word is rarely used in modern standard Vietnamese on its own. Its core meaning is preserved in literary or compound words.
Variants and Related Words
Tiềm ẩn (v): to lie hidden; to be latent or potential.
- Nguy cơ tiềm ẩn (A hidden risk).
Tiềm thức (n): the subconscious.
- Nỗi sợ từ tiềm thức (A fear from the subconscious).
Tiềm tàng (adj): latent; dormant.
- Sức mạnh tiềm tàng (Latent strength).
Tiềm thuỷ (adj): submersible; capable of operating underwater.
- Tàu tiềm thuỷ (A submersible ship).
Tiềm vịt (v, dialectal): This is the referenced phrase meaning "to duck-dive," specifically describing the action of a duck diving underwater.
Synonyms
- Lặn: to dive (the common modern word for diving underwater).
- Ẩn: to hide; to conceal.
- Chìm: to sink; to be submerged.
Notes on Usage
- "Tiềm" is primarily encountered in formal, literary, or scientific contexts within compound words (e.g., , ). Its standalone use is largely obsolete in everyday speech, where words like "lặn" (to dive) or "chìm" (to sink) are preferred. The dictionary reference "Tiềm vịt" is a clear example of its dialectal use.