ắng
Definition
- Adjective:
- Quiet, silent, still: Describes a state where sound, activity, or news has ceased or become absent, creating a noticeable lack of noise or information.
- Interrupted, ceased: Indicates that something, such as news, communication, or a sound, has stopped or been cut off.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Căn nhà trở nên ắng lặng. (The house became quiet and still.)
- Tin tức ắng lại. (The news ceased / was interrupted.)
- Đường phố ắng vắng vào ban đêm. (The streets are deserted/silent at night.)
Advanced Usage
"ắng lặng": profoundly quiet or silent.
- Khu rừng ắng lặng đến lạ thường. (The forest was unusually silent.)
"ắng vắng": deserted, devoid of people and activity.
- Ngôi làng ắng vắng sau khi mọi người ra đi. (The village was deserted after everyone left.)
Variants and Related Words
- Vắng (adj): absent, empty, deserted. While similar, "vắng" often focuses on the absence of people or things, whereas "ắng" emphasizes the resulting silence or cessation.
- Văn phòng vắng người. (The office is empty of people.)
Synonyms
- Quiet: making little or no noise.
- Silent: completely quiet; without sound.
- Still: deep silence and calm.
Related Idioms
- Ắng tai: (to be) pleasing to the ear; melodious. (Note: This is a less common, positive usage contrasting with the main meaning of silence.)
- Giọng hát của cô ấy thật ắng tai. (Her singing voice is very melodious.)