The Vietnamese word "ôm đồm" is a verb that means to carry too many things at once or to take on more than one can handle. It's often used in situations where someone is overloaded with items or responsibilities, suggesting that they are trying to manage too much at the same time.
Literal Use: "Đi đâu mà ôm đồm thế?" - "Where are you going with so many things?"
Figurative Use: "Cô ấy ôm đồm quá nhiều việc, nên không có thời gian nghỉ ngơi." - "She is taking on too many tasks, so she doesn't have time to rest."
In more complex sentences, "ôm đồm" can be used to express not just the physical act of carrying too many items, but also the mental or emotional burden of handling excessive responsibilities.
While "ôm đồm" is the primary form, you might come across variations in informal speech or regional dialects, but they generally retain the same meaning.
The primary meaning of "ôm đồm" revolves around the concept of overloading, whether it's physical objects or responsibilities. It does not have many alternative meanings, but context can change how it’s perceived (e.g., it can be viewed as a criticism for being disorganized or as a comment on someone's hardworking nature).
Understanding "ôm đồm" is useful for describing situations where someone is overwhelmed or overloaded, whether physically or in terms of responsibility.