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thấm
/tʰəm˧˥/
to absorb or soak up
Nước thấm vào giấy.
The water soaked into the paper.
general
To absorb or soak up liquid or moisture.
Áo của tôi thấm nước khi tôi rơi vào hồ.
My shirt got soaked when I fell into the pond.
Commonly used for liquids penetrating materials.
figurative
To be deeply affected by emotions or ideas.
Tôi thấm vào âm nhạc đó.
I was deeply moved by that music.
Used metaphorically for emotional or intellectual absorption.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
Pay attention to context to distinguish between physical absorption (e.g., water soaking into paper) and emotional absorption (e.g., being deeply moved by something).
Gold Rule
Context is Key
The meaning of 'thấm' depends heavily on the context. Physical contexts refer to liquids, while abstract contexts refer to emotions or ideas.
Word Origin
From the root 'thấm' meaning to penetrate or absorb, likely related to the physical process of liquids soaking into materials.
Usage Notes
In Vietnamese, 'thấm' can describe both physical absorption and metaphorical emotional or intellectual absorption. The context usually clarifies the intended meaning.
Word Breakdown
thấm
to absorb or penetrate
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh