Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Exhausted, extremely tired: "đừ" describes a state of being completely worn out, having no energy left.
   • Limp, inert, listless: It can also describe a state of physical or mental lethargy, a lack of strength or vitality.

Usage

• "Đừ" is used as a predicate adjective, typically following the subject and a verb like "mệt" (tired) or "rã" (spent) to intensify the state of exhaustion.
• It is often used in informal, colloquial speech to emphasize extreme fatigue.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tôi mệt đừ rồi. (I am dead tired.)
  • Sau chuyến leo núi, cả nhóm người rã đừ. (After the hiking trip, the whole group was completely spent.)
  • Nó nằm đừ ra trên ghế, chẳng muốn nhúc nhích. (He lay limp/inert on the chair, not wanting to move a muscle.)

Advanced Usage

• "rã đừ": to be completely exhausted, physically spent.
  • Làm việc cả ngày dưới trời nắng khiến tôi rã đừ. (Working all day under the sun left me completely exhausted.)
• "mệt đừ người": to be utterly fatigued, tired to the bone.
  • Dọn dẹp nhà cửa xong, cô ấy mệt đừ người. (After cleaning the house, she was utterly fatigued.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đừ đừ (adj): An intensified reduplicative form, emphasizing a state of being completely listless or inert.
  • Con mèo nằm đừ đừ sau khi ăn no. (The cat lay completely listless after a full meal.)
• Mệt (adj): Tired. ("Đừ" intensifies this state).
• Rã rời (adj): Weary, spent. (A near-synonymous phrase).

Synonyms

• Kiệt sức: exhausted, depleted of strength.
• Rũ rượi: limp, drooping (often from fatigue).
• Mệt lử: (idiomatic) dog-tired.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The core meaning of "đừ" is a state of extreme physical fatigue leading to inertia.
• It is not typically used to describe emotional tiredness (e.g., sadness, boredom). For those, words like "chán" (bored) or "buồn" (sad) are more appropriate.
• It is almost never used as a standalone verb. Its primary function is as an adjective complement.

1. To death, extremely
   • Mệt đừ
     Dead tired, dog-tired