êm giọng
Definition
- Adjective:
- Soft-spoken / gentle-voiced: Describes a person's voice or manner of speaking that is calm, soothing, and pleasant to listen to.
- Of agreeable taste: An older or less common usage describing something, typically food or drink, that has a pleasant, mild, and smooth flavor.
Usage Examples
Adjective (describing voice):
- Cô giáo mới luôn êm giọng với học sinh. (The new teacher is always soft-spoken with her students.)
- Anh ấy trả lời êm giọng dù rất tức giận. (He replied in a gentle voice despite being very angry.)
Adjective (describing taste):
- Ly rượu vang này êm giọng và dễ uống. (This glass of wine is smooth-tasting and easy to drink.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in modern Vietnamese to describe vocal quality. The usage related to taste is now considered literary or somewhat archaic.
Variants and Related Words
- Giọng nói êm ái (phrase): a soft and gentle voice.
- Cô ấy có giọng nói êm ái. (She has a soft and gentle voice.)
- Êm đềm (adj): peaceful, tranquil (often describing a situation or atmosphere).
- Dịu giọng (v): to lower or soften one's voice.
Synonyms
- Soft-spoken: speaking with a gentle voice.
- Melodious: pleasant-sounding.
- Mellow: soft, rich, and pleasant (for sound or taste).
Related Idioms
- Lời nói êm như khen: Words as soft as praise. (Implies that soft, gentle words can be very effective or persuasive.)
- Mật ngọt chết ruồi: Sweet honey kills flies. (An idiom about the danger of flattery or sweet words, which is a related concept to the power of a gentle voice.)