Definition

1. Noun:

   • Figure; carriage; posture: The physical form, bearing, or graceful posture of a person, often implying elegance or a particular manner of holding oneself.
   • Melody; tune; air: A distinct sequence of musical notes forming a recognizable musical unit or a style of singing.
   • Figure (of a dance): The pattern, style, or form of a dance.

2. Adjective (colloquial):

   • Mannered; affected; giving oneself fine airs: Behaving in an exaggeratedly stylish, pretentious, or self-conscious way to attract attention.

3. Verb (colloquial):

   • To march off; to lead away: To take or escort someone, often in a forced or authoritative manner, to a specific place.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Nét buồn như cúc, điệu gầy như mai. (Her face was melancholy like a chrysanthemum and her figure thin like an apricot spray.)
  • Một điệu hát dân ca. (A folk song melody.)
  • Điệu múa truyền thống. (The figure of a traditional dance.)

• Adjective:

  • Cô ấy ăn mặc rất điệu. (She dresses in a very affected/mannered way.)

• Verb:

  • Cảnh sát điệu tên tội phạm về đồn. (The police marched the criminal off to the station.)

Advanced Usage

• The adjective sense is often used in modern, informal contexts to describe someone (usually female) who is overly concerned with appearing fashionable, delicate, or cute in a somewhat artificial way.
• As a noun in music, "điệu" can refer to a specific musical mode or rhythm, such as in "điệu bolero" or "điệu blues."

Variants and Related Words

• Điệu bộ (n): Mannerism, gesture, demeanor.

  • Anh ta có điệu bộ rất tự tin. (He has a very confident demeanor.)

• Điệu đà (adj): An intensified form of the adjective "điệu," meaning very affected, coquettish, or dainty in manner.

  • Cô ấy điệu đà quá! (She is so affected/coquettish!)

Synonyms

• Noun (Figure): Form, silhouette, bearing.
• Noun (Melody): Tune, air, strain.
• Adjective: Affected, pretentious, posey.
• Verb: Escort, haul off, take away.

Related Idioms

• Làm điệu: To put on airs; to act in a coy or affected manner.

  • Đừng làm điệu nữa, hãy tự nhiên đi. (Stop putting on airs, be natural.)

• Ra điệu: Similar to "làm điệu," meaning to strike a pose or behave affectedly.

  • Cô bé ra điệu khi có mặt người lạ. (The little girl acted affectedly when strangers were present.)

1. Figure; carriage.
   • "Nét buồn như cúc, điệu gầy như mai " (Nguyễn Du)
2. Her face was melancholy like a chrysanthemum anf her firure thin like an apricot spray
3. Medoly
   • Một điệu lâm ly
     A doleful medoly
4. Tune,air
   • Điệu hát hò mái nhì mái đẩy
     A baotman's tune
   • Figune (of dancẹ..).
5. (thông tục) Mannered, giving oneself fine airs
   • Cô ta điệu lắm
     She gives herself very fine airs
6. Match off
   • Điệu tên móc túi về đồn công an.
     To march off a pickpocket to a polise-station