ách tắc

Xe cộ bị ách tắc trên đường phố đông đúc.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Congested; blocked; jammed: Describes a state where movement or flow is severely impeded or brought to a complete standstill, typically due to an overwhelming accumulation or obstruction. Most commonly used for traffic.
   • Deadlocked; stalemated: Describes a situation, often in negotiations, discussions, or processes, where no progress can be made because of an irreconcilable disagreement or impasse.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Giao thông đang ách tắc hoàn toàn. (The traffic is completely jammed.)
  • Cuộc đàm phán rơi vào tình trạng ách tắc. (The negotiations have reached a deadlock.)
  • Đường ống nước bị ách tắc vì rác. (The water pipe is blocked by trash.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in formal or news contexts to describe systemic failures or major stoppages.
• It implies a more severe and problematic state than simpler words for "blocked" (bị tắc), emphasizing a critical level of obstruction.

Variants and Related Words

• Tắc nghẽn (adj/n): congestion, blockage. A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "ách tắc," though "tắc nghẽn" can be slightly more general.
  • tắc nghẽn giao thông (traffic congestion)
• Ùn tắc (adj/n): traffic jam, backlog. Frequently used for traffic and queues.
  • Ùn tắc kéo dài hàng cây số. (The traffic jam stretched for kilometers.)

Synonyms

• Congested: (for traffic or passages).
• Deadlocked: (for discussions or situations).
• Gridlocked: (specifically for severe traffic jams or political stalemates).
• Blocked: (general).

Related Idioms

• While "ách tắc" itself is not typically part of idioms, it describes the state central to common phrases.
• Bế tắc: dead end, impasse. A related noun describing a state of being stuck with no way out, often used for non-physical situations.
  • Mọi hướng giải quyết đều dẫn đến bế tắc. (Every solution leads to a dead end.)