Definition

1. Noun:

   • Pot; Kettle: A container, typically made of metal, ceramic, or clay, used for boiling water, brewing tea, or preparing medicinal decoctions.
   • A pot's contents: The quantity of liquid (e.g., water, tea) that fills one such pot.

2. Adjective:

   • Warm; Tepid: Having or giving a moderate, comfortable degree of heat, not hot.
   • Warm (clothing): Providing insulation and retaining body heat.
   • Warm (voice/tone): Having a soft, deep, and pleasant quality.
   • Secure; Comfortable: Describing a state of stability, ease, or satisfactory arrangement.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Mẹ đun một ấm nước để pha trà. (Mother boiled a kettle of water to make tea.)
  • Chúng tôi uống hết cả ấm trà. (We drank the whole pot of tea.)

• Adjective:

  • Hôm nay trời khá ấm. (The weather is quite warm today.)
  • Mặc áo ấm vào kẻo lạnh. (Put on warm clothes or you'll catch a cold.)
  • Cô ấy có giọng nói rất ấm áp. (She has a very warm voice.)
  • Gia đình họ sống trong một căn nhà nhỏ nhưng ấm cúng. (Their family lives in a small but cozy house.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ấm sinh" (Historical Noun): Refers to a "student of privilege" in feudal Vietnam, often the son of a high-ranking mandarin who could enter school by virtue of his father's position rather than examination.

  • Ông ấy từng là một ấm sinh. (He was once a student by hereditary privilege.)

• "Ấm tổ tiên" / "Nhờ ấm tổ tiên": Refers to benefiting from the moral influence, blessings, or legacy of one's ancestors.

  • Gia tộc ấy phát đạt nhờ ấm tổ tiên. (That family prospered thanks to their ancestors' blessings.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ấm trà (n): Teapot.

  • Bà tôi có một chiếc ấm trà cổ rất đẹp. (My grandmother has a very beautiful antique teapot.)

• Ấm đất (n): Earthenware pot/kettle.

  • Nước sắc thuốc bằng ấm đất được cho là tốt hơn. (Medicine decocted in an earthenware pot is considered better.)

• Ấm áp (adj): Warm (emotionally or physically); cozy.

  • Bữa cơm gia đình thật ấm áp. (The family meal was so warm and cozy.)

• Hâm ấm (v): To warm something up (e.g., food).

  • Cô ấy hâm ấm lại thức ăn cho con. (She warmed up the food for her child.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Kettle, pot, teapot.
• Adjective: Warm, tepid, cozy, snug, comfortable.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Trong ấm ngoài êm: Literally "warm inside, peaceful outside." It describes a state of domestic harmony and external peace, where the family is happy and relations with others are smooth.

  • Cứ giữ được thế trong ấm ngoài êm là tốt lắm rồi. (Just maintaining that state of internal warmth and external peace is very good already.)

• Ăn no mặc ấm: To have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear; to have basic material needs met.

  • Ước mơ của họ là con cái được ăn no mặc ấm. (Their dream is for their children to have enough food and warm clothing.)

• Ấm vào thân: For one's own benefit or comfort. Often used in the advisory phrase "Biết nghe lời thì ấm vào thân" (Listen to good advice, and you'll benefit yourself).

  • Làm việc đó cũng chỉ ấm vào thân anh ta thôi. (Doing that only benefits him.)

• Như tre ấm bụi: Literally "like bamboo growing in a thick clump." It symbolizes close-knit unity and mutual support within a family or community.

  • Cả gia tộc đoàn kết như tre ấm bụi. (The whole clan is united like bamboo in a thicket.)

noun

1. pot; kettle
   • ấm pha trà
     teapot
   • pha một ấm trà
     to draw a pot of tea
   • đun một ấm nước
     to boil a kettle of water

adj

1. warm; tepid
   • nắng ấm
     a warm sun
   • quần áo ấm
     warm clothes
   • ăn no mặc ấm
     to have adequate food and clothing
   • trời ấm lên