The Vietnamese word "ế ẩm" is used to describe a situation where something, usually a product or service, is unable to attract customers or is not selling well. It conveys a sense of being stagnant or in a poor market condition.
You can use "ế ẩm" when talking about a business that is struggling to sell its products or when an event fails to attract people. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
In a Business Context:
In an Event Context:
In a more advanced context, "ế ẩm" can be used metaphorically to describe any situation that is stagnant or lacking enthusiasm: - "Dự án này đang ế ẩm, cần một ý tưởng mới để phát triển." - Translation: "This project is stagnant; it needs a new idea to develop."
There are no direct variants of "ế ẩm," but you might see it used in different sentence structures or combined with other words: - "Tình hình ế ẩm" (the stagnant situation) - "Sản phẩm ế ẩm" (the unmarketable product)
While "ế ẩm" primarily refers to poor sales or lack of customers, it can also metaphorically imply a lack of excitement or engagement in other areas, such as events or activities.