um
Definition
Adjective:
- Luxuriant; lush; thickly growing: Describes vegetation that is very green, dense, and abundant.
- Dense; thick: Describes a substance like smoke or fog that is very concentrated and heavy.
- Strong; pungent: Describes a smell that is very powerful and intense.
Adverb:
- Loudly; boisterously; clamorously: Describes an action, typically making noise, done in a very loud, noisy, or uproarious manner.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Khu rừng này cây cối xanh um. (The vegetation in this forest is lush and green.)
- Khói um cả một góc trời. (The smoke was thick over a whole corner of the sky.)
- Mùi cá ươm khai um cả nhà. (The smell of spoiled fish was pungent throughout the house.)
Adverb:
- Bọn trẻ cãi nhau um lên. (The children argued loudly/boisterously.)
- Ông chủ quát tháo um sòng. (The boss was yelling uproariously.)
Advanced Usage
- "um sùm": An intensified reduplicative form meaning very noisy, tumultuous, or causing a big fuss.
- Vụ việc gây tranh cãi um sùm trên báo chí. (The incident caused a tumultuous controversy in the press.)
Variants and Related Words
- Um tùm (adj): Very dense, thick, and tangled (often for plants or hair).
- Bụi cây um tùm. (A thick and tangled bush.)
Synonyms
- Lush / Luxuriant: (for plants) growing thickly and healthily.
- Dense / Thick: (for smoke, fog) concentrated.
- Pungent / Strong: (for smell) powerful and sharp.
- Loudly / Boisterously / Clamorously: (for sound) in a very noisy way.
Related Idioms
- Làm um lên: To make a big fuss or a lot of noise about something.
- Chuyện nhỏ mà anh ta cứ làm um lên. (It was a small matter, but he kept making a big fuss about it.)