tâm ngẩm
Definition
- Adjective:
- Taciturn / reserved: Describes a person who is habitually quiet, says little, and does not readily reveal their thoughts or feelings. It implies a quiet, inwardly-focused, and somewhat uncommunicative nature.
- Sullenly silent: Can carry a connotation of being quiet in a stubborn, morose, or uncooperative way.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Anh ta là người rất tâm ngẩm, ít khi chia sẻ suy nghĩ của mình. (He is a very taciturn person, rarely sharing his thoughts.)
- Đừng nhìn vẻ tâm ngẩm bên ngoài mà tưởng anh ấy không để ý. (Don't mistake his reserved exterior for a lack of attention.)
- Cô ấy ngồi tâm ngẩm một góc, không nói năng gì. (She sat sullenly silent in a corner, not saying a word.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often describes a permanent or inherent character trait rather than a temporary mood. It suggests depth or hidden thoughts behind the quietness.
Variants and Related Words
Trầm mặc (adj): quiet, pensive, solemnly silent. Often with a more dignified or thoughtful connotation than tâm ngẩm.
- Ông ấy ngồi trầm mặc nhìn ra cửa sổ. (He sat quietly, looking out the window.)
Lầm lì (adj): sullen, sulky, glum. Shares the quietness of tâm ngẩm but with a stronger emphasis on bad temper or stubbornness.
- Thằng bé mặt lầm lì không chào ai. (The boy had a sullen face and didn't greet anyone.)
Synonyms
- Taciturn: reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
- Reticent: not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
- Uncommunicative: unwilling to talk or impart information.
Related Idioms
- While itself is not typically part of a common idiom, it describes the kind of person often referenced in phrases about hidden depths, such as "" (Still waters run deep).