tối sầm
Definition
- Adjective:
- To darken suddenly or abruptly: Describes a rapid and noticeable change from a lighter to a much darker state, often referring to the sky or an environment.
- To become gloomy or somber: Used figuratively to describe a sudden change in mood or atmosphere to one that is dark, depressing, or foreboding.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Trời đang nắng bỗng tối sầm vì sắp mưa. (The sky, which was sunny, suddenly darkened because rain was coming.)
- Căn phòng tối sầm lại khi cúp điện. (The room darkened suddenly when the power went out.)
- Khuôn mặt anh ấy tối sầm khi nghe tin. (His face darkened [became gloomy] upon hearing the news.)
Advanced Usage
- "tối sầm mặt lại": to have one's face darken (with anger, shock, or worry).
- Nghe lời buộc tội, ông chủ tối sầm mặt lại. (Upon hearing the accusation, the boss's face darkened.)
Variants and Related Words
Tối om (adj): pitch dark, very dark.
- Trong rừng thì tối om. (It's pitch dark inside the forest.)
Sầm tối (v/n): to grow dark (often referring to dusk); dusk.
- Trời sầm tối, chim bay về tổ. (As it grew dark, the birds flew back to their nests.)
Synonyms
- Darken suddenly: to become dark quickly.
- Gloom: partial or total darkness; a state of melancholy.
- Overcast: covered with clouds; darkened.
Related Idioms
- Trời tối sầm trước mắt: to see darkness before one's eyes (often due to dizziness, shock, or extreme emotion).
- Ngã đau đến mức tôi thấy trời tối sầm trước mắt. (I fell so hard that I saw darkness before my eyes.)