Definition

1. Noun:

   • A blind street musician or performer: A traditional Vietnamese itinerant singer, typically blind, who performs folk songs and narratives, often accompanied by a simple string instrument like the đàn nhị or đàn bầu.
   • A genre of folk music: The style of music performed by these blind musicians, characterized by its melancholic, narrative quality and traditional poetic forms.

2. Adjective (colloquial):

   • Dim, dark, or poorly lit: Used to describe a place with very little light, almost to the point of blindness.
   • Hopeless or bleak: Figuratively describes a situation that seems dark, unpromising, or without hope.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Ông cụ là một nghệ sĩ xẩm nổi tiếng. (The old man was a famous xẩm performer.)
  • Chúng tôi thích nghe các làn điệu xẩm cổ. (We enjoy listening to ancient xẩm melodies.)

• Adjective:

  • Căn phòng này xẩm quá, bật đèn lên đi. (This room is too dark, turn on the light.)
  • Tương lai của dự án đó trông thật xẩm. (The future of that project looks very bleak.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hát xẩm": The act of performing xẩm music.

  • Cụ già vẫn hát xẩm ở góc phố. (The old man still performs xẩm on the street corner.)

• "Xẩm tối": Pitch dark.

  • Trời đã xẩm tối khi chúng tôi về đến nhà. (It was pitch dark when we got home.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sẩm (adj, v): A common variant spelling for the adjective meaning "to become dark" or "dim". Also used interchangeably for the music genre.

  • Trời sẩm tối. (The sky is getting dark.)

• Xẩm xịt (adj): An intensified colloquial form meaning very dark, gloomy, or dismal.

  • Thời tiết xẩm xịt cả ngày. (The weather was gloomy all day.)

Synonyms

• Noun (performer): blind minstrel, street singer.
• Noun (music): folk music, traditional narrative song.
• Adjective: dark, dim, gloomy, bleak.

Related Idioms

• Xẩm như hũ nút: As dark as a jar lid; meaning pitch black, completely dark.

  • Đường hầm không đèn, xẩm như hũ nút. (The tunnel had no lights; it was as dark as a jar lid.)

• Mắt xẩm: Literally "xẩm eyes"; can imply poor eyesight or, figuratively, a lack of foresight.

  • Đừng có mắt xẩm mà không nhìn thấy cơ hội. (Don't be "blind" and fail to see the opportunity.)