Definition

Adjective: - Limp, wilted, drooping: Describes something that is soft, flabby, and lacking firmness or vitality, often due to being crushed, wilted, or lacking energy. - Listless, dispirited, downcast: Describes a person's spirit, mood, or demeanor as being low, sad, or lacking enthusiasm.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Những bông hoa bị héo ỉu xịu vì nắng. (The flowers were wilted and limp from the sun.)
  • Sau tin buồn, anh ấy ngồi ỉu xịu một mình. (After the sad news, he sat listlessly by himself.)
  • Cái bánh mì để lâu ngày trở nên ỉu xịu. (The bread became soft and limp after being left out for a long time.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe both physical objects (plants, food) losing their firmness and people/animals losing their spirit.
• Often conveys a sense of pity or slight disdain for the drooping, unenergetic state.
• Can be reduplicated for emphasis: ỉu xìu ỉu xịu.

Variants and Related Words

• Ỉu (adj): The root form, meaning wilted, limp, or dispirited. 'Ỉu xịu' is an extended, more descriptive form.
• Ỉu xìu (adj): A common variant with the same meaning as 'ỉu xịu'.
• Ủ rũ (adj): Drooping, dejected (often for plants or mood). A close synonym.
• Xìu (adj, colloquial): To become soft, deflated, or discouraged (e.g., - hearing that news, he became completely deflated).

Synonyms

• Heo hon: Withered, shriveled.
• Ủ rũ: Dejected, drooping.
• Chán nản: Discouraged, disheartened (for mood).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Mặt ỉu xịu: To have a long face; to look downcast or disappointed.
  • Nghe kết quả, nó làm mặt ỉu xịu. (Upon hearing the result, he made a long, disappointed face.)
• Ỉu xịu như chim gãy cánh: As drooping as a bird with a broken wing (emphasizing extreme dejection or helplessness).

1. như ỉu