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yên
/jen˧˧/
peaceful, calm, quiet
Cô ấy luôn yên tĩnh khi làm việc.
She is always calm when working.
general
Having a sense of peace, tranquility, or calmness; free from disturbance or agitation.
Nó yên tâm khi biết bạn đã đến.
He felt at peace knowing you had arrived.
Often used to describe a state of mental or emotional calm.
general
Quiet or silent, with little or no noise.
Phòng này rất yên.
This room is very quiet.
Can refer to physical quietness or a lack of activity.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Yên' is often used to describe a peaceful or calm state, whether in a person or an environment. It can also mean 'quiet' in the sense of little noise.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'yên' can shift slightly depending on context. For example, 'yên tâm' means 'at ease,' while 'yên lặng' means 'silent.'
Word Origin
From Middle Vietnamese, derived from Old Vietnamese *yên, meaning 'peaceful' or 'calm.' Related to Chinese 寧 (níng) and 靖 (jìng), meaning 'peaceful' or 'tranquil.'
Usage Notes
Can be used to describe both physical environments (e.g., a quiet place) and emotional states (e.g., feeling calm). Often paired with other words like 'tĩnh' (still) or 'tâm' (heart/mind) to emphasize its meaning.
Word Breakdown
yên
peaceful, calm, quiet
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh