hẻm

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The Vietnamese word "hẻm" is a noun that primarily means "alley" or "lane." It refers to a narrow passageway between buildings or a small road that is not as wide as a street. "Hẻm" is commonly used in urban areas where there are many closely built houses or shops.

Usage Instructions:

• "Hẻm" is typically used when talking about smaller, less busy pathways compared to main streets. It is often associated with residential areas.
• You can use "hẻm" to describe the location of a house, shop, or a specific place.

Example:

1. In a Sentence: "Nhà tôi nằm trong một hẻm nhỏ."
   (My house is located in a small alley.)

2. In Context: If someone asks for directions, you might say, "Đi thẳng và rẽ trái vào hẻm đầu tiên."
   (Go straight and turn left at the first alley.)

Advanced Usage:

• "Hẻm" can also be used in more specific contexts. For example, "hẻm núi" means "defile" or "narrow mountain pass," indicating a small passage between mountains. This shows how "hẻm" can describe geographical features as well.

Word Variants:

• "Hẻm" can combine with other words to create phrases. For example:
  • "hẻm cụt" (dead-end alley) – an alley that does not lead anywhere.
  • "hẻm nhỏ" (small alley) – referring to particularly narrow alleys.

Different Meanings:

• While "hẻm" mainly denotes an alley, in some contexts, it can also imply a hidden or less accessible path or area.

Synonyms:

• Other words that can be used similarly to "hẻm" include:
  • "ngõ" (narrow street or lane) – often used interchangeably in some areas, but may imply a slightly wider passage.
  • "lối" (pathway) – more general and can refer to any kind of path, not necessarily narrow.

Academic

noun

1. alley; lane
   • hẻm núi
     defile