trầm
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Deep, low-pitched: Describes a sound, especially a voice or musical tone, that is low in frequency and often rich or warm in quality.
- Subdued, low-key: Refers to a state, activity, or personality that is calm, not lively or intense.
- Sunken, submerged (less common): Can describe something that is sunken or has sunk down.
Noun (abbreviation):
- Agarwood / Eaglewood: A short form of "trầm hương," referring to the valuable, fragrant, dark resinous wood used in incense and perfume.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Giọng nói của anh ấy rất trầm và ấm áp. (His speaking voice is very deep and warm.)
- Không khí trong phòng họp khá trầm. (The atmosphere in the meeting room was quite subdued.)
- Con thuyền bị trầm sau vụ va chạm. (The boat was sunken after the collision.)
Noun:
- Mùi trầm tỏa ra từ chiếc lò hương. (The scent of agarwood wafted from the incense burner.)
Advanced Usage
"trầm tính": calm-tempered, introverted.
- Cô ấy là người trầm tính, ít nói. (She is a calm-tempered person who speaks little.)
"trầm trầm": reduplicative form emphasizing a consistently low, deep, or subdued state.
- Âm thanh trầm trầm vang lên từ tầng hầm. (A low, deep sound echoed from the basement.)
Variants and Related Words
Trầm hương (n): agarwood, eaglewood (the full term for the fragrant wood).
- Vòng tay làm từ trầm hương rất được ưa chuộng. (Bracelets made from agarwood are very popular.)
Trầm cảm (n): depression (psychological state).
- Cậu ấy đang được điều trị chứng trầm cảm. (He is being treated for depression.)
Trầm trọng (adj): serious, severe, grave.
- Tình hình sức khỏe của bệnh nhân ngày càng trầm trọng. (The patient's health condition is becoming increasingly serious.)
Synonyms
- Deep / Low: for sound (e.g., bass).
- Subdued / Calm: for mood or atmosphere.
- Agarwood / Aloeswood: for the noun form.
Related Idioms
Trầm bổng: literally "low and high," describing melodic variation in music or speech.
- Giọng kể chuyện của ông lên xuống trầm bổng. (His storytelling voice rose and fell in a melodic cadence.)
Nổi trầm: literally "to float and to sink," describing the ups and downs of life or fortune.
- Cuộc đời có lúc nổi trầm. (Life has its ups and downs.)