Definition

1. Verb:
   • To console / to comfort: To give emotional support or solace to someone who is distressed, sad, or disappointed. This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • To soothe: To alleviate grief, worry, or pain through kind words or actions.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy cố gắng yên ủi người bạn đang khóc. (She tried to console her crying friend.)
  • Lời nói tử tế của anh ấy đã yên ủi tôi rất nhiều. (His kind words comforted me a great deal.)
  • Không gì có thể yên ủi được nỗi đau mất mát đó. (Nothing could soothe that pain of loss.)

Advanced Usage

• This verb is considered a literary or slightly formal variant. In modern, everyday spoken Vietnamese, the form "an ủi" is far more prevalent and recommended for learners.

Variants and Related Words

• An ủi (v): The standard modern form meaning "to console, to comfort."
  • Mẹ an ủi đứa trẻ. (The mother comforts the child.)

Synonyms

• Console: To comfort someone in a time of grief or disappointment.
• Comfort: To give strength and hope, to ease sorrow or worry.
• Soothe: To gently calm or relieve emotional pain.

Notes on Usage

• "Yên ủi" is a recognized but less common synonym for "an ủi". Learners should prioritize learning and using "an ủi" for active communication.
• The term describes an action directed at another person's emotional state, not one's own. (e.g., "I console ").