Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Damp: Slightly wet, often in a way that is noticeable and sometimes unpleasant, typically because of moisture being absorbed or retained.
   • Humid: (Used to describe air or weather) Containing a high amount of water vapor, making the atmosphere feel moist and sticky.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Quần áo phơi trong nhà vẫn còn ẩm. (The clothes dried indoors are still damp.)
  • Thời tiết Sài Gòn thường rất ẩm vào mùa mưa. (The weather in Saigon is often very humid during the rainy season.)
  • Hãy bảo quản bánh quy trong hộp kín để tránh bị ẩm. (Keep the cookies in an airtight container to prevent them from getting damp.)

Advanced Usage

• "ẩm ướt": damp and wet; clammy. This compound emphasizes a state of being unpleasantly wet.

  • Căn hầm tối và ẩm ướt. (The basement was dark and damp.)

• "hơi ẩm": slightly damp; moist. This phrase indicates a mild, often acceptable, level of dampness.

  • Đất trong chậu còn hơi ẩm, chưa cần tưới. (The soil in the pot is still slightly moist, no need to water yet.)

Variants and Related Words

• Độ ẩm (n): humidity; dampness level.

  • Độ ẩm không khí hôm nay là 85%. (The air humidity today is 85%.)

• Chống ẩm (v/phr): to be damp-proof; to protect against moisture.

  • Túi này có lớp chống ẩm. (This bag has a damp-proof layer.)

• Ẩm thấp (adj): damp and low-lying; often describes an unhealthily wet environment.

  • Căn nhà ẩm thấp dễ sinh bệnh. (A damp, low-lying house is prone to causing illness.)

Synonyms

• Moist: Slightly wet, often in a fresh or desirable way.
• Damp: Slightly wet, usually in an undesirable or cold way.
• Humid: (For air) Containing a lot of moisture.

Related Idioms

• Ẩm như chuột lột: As damp as a skinned rat; meaning extremely wet and soaked through.
  • Mưa về, người ướt nhẹp, ẩm như chuột lột. (When the rain came, he was drenched, as damp as a skinned rat.)

adj

1. Damp, humid
   • quần áo ẩm
     damp clothes
   • mặt đất ẩm hơi sương
     the ground is damp with dew
   • trời ẩm
     wet weather
   • chống ẩm
     damp-proof