Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Beautiful, fine (in a general sense): "đẹp đẽ" describes something that is aesthetically pleasing, attractive, or good-looking in a broad, often positive, way.
   • Proper, decent, suitable: It can also imply something is fitting, appropriate, or presentable in a moral or social context.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Quần áo đẹp đẽ. (Fine clothes.)
  • Cô ấy có một tâm hồn đẹp đẽ. (She has a beautiful soul.)
  • Họ mong muốn một tương lai đẹp đẽ hơn. (They desire a more beautiful future.)

Advanced Usage

• "đẹp đẽ" vs. "đẹp": While both mean "beautiful," "đẹp đẽ" often carries a slightly more formal, literary, or emphatic tone, and can imply a more comprehensive or profound beauty. "Đẹp" is more common and direct.
  • Một hành động đẹp đẽ (A noble/fine action) emphasizes the moral beauty more than một hành động đẹp.
• Used to describe abstract concepts (future, soul, relationship) as well as concrete things.

Variants and Related Words

• Đẹp (adj): Beautiful, pretty. The core, more frequently used synonym.
• Xinh đẹp (adj): Pretty, lovely (often for people, especially women).
• Tốt đẹp (adj): Good and beautiful, fine (often for relationships, outcomes).
• Đẹp đẽ is itself an example of a reduplicative form (lặp từ) of "đẹp," which intensifies or softens the meaning, making it more lyrical.

Synonyms

• Xinh xắn: Pretty, cute.
• Lộng lẫy: Gorgeous, splendid.
• Ưa nhìn: Pleasant to look at.
• Phù hợp: Suitable, appropriate (for the "proper" sense).

Related Phrases

• Trang trí cho đẹp đẽ: To decorate to make (it) beautiful/fine.
  • Căn phòng được trang trí cho thật đẹp đẽ. (The room was decorated to be truly beautiful.)
• Sống một cuộc đời đẹp đẽ: To live a beautiful/fine life.
  • Ông ấy luôn mong muốn sống một cuộc đời đẹp đẽ. (He always wished to live a beautiful life.)

Related Idioms

• "Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn, xấu người đẹp nết còn hơn đẹp người." (Good wood is better than good paint; an ugly person with beautiful character is better than a beautiful person.) This proverb contrasts external beauty ("đẹp người") with internal qualities, a context where "đẹp đẽ" about character could be used.

1. Beautiful, fine (nói khái quát)
   • Quần áo đẹp đẽ
     Fine clothes