Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hush up; to cover up; to conceal: To intentionally hide or suppress information, an object, or a feeling so that others do not know about it.
   • To tuck away; to stuff under: To put or push something underneath another object so it is hidden or held in place.
   • To hide oneself; to crouch; to take cover: To position oneself in a concealed or sheltered spot, often to avoid detection.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy đã ém chuyện đó đi để tránh scandal. (He hushed up that matter to avoid a scandal.)
  • Cô ấy ém lá thư dưới gối. (She tucked the letter away under the pillow.)
  • Người lính ém mình sau bức tường. (The soldier hid himself behind the wall.)

Advanced Usage

• "ém nhẹm": To completely cover up or hush something up thoroughly.
  • Vụ việc đã bị ém nhẹm suốt nhiều năm. (The incident was completely hushed up for many years.)
• "ém vào lòng": To suppress or hold back one's feelings (like anger or sadness).
  • Cô ấy chỉ biết ém nỗi buồn vào lòng. (She could only suppress the sadness in her heart.)

Variants and Related Words

• Che giấu (verb): To conceal, to hide. (A close synonym, often used interchangeably in the context of hiding information).
• Giấu diếm (verb): To hide, to cover up. (Emphasizes a secretive, deceptive act of hiding).

Synonyms

• Bưng bít: To cover up, to suppress (information).
• Giấu: To hide.
• Né tránh: To avoid, to dodge (can be related in the context of hiding oneself).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Ém hàng (colloquial): To hide or stash away goods, often contraband.
  • Bọn buôn lậu thường ém hàng trong các container. (Smugglers often stash goods away in containers.)

Related Idioms

• "Ém như mèo ém cứt" (very informal/vulgar idiom): To try to hide something obvious or poorly, akin to "a poor attempt to cover something up." It implies the hidden thing is still easily discovered.
  • Nó nói dối mà ém như mèo ém cứt, ai mà chẳng biết. (He lied but tried to cover it up poorly, everyone knows.)

verb

1. to hush up; to cover up