Definition

Adjective: 1. Very small and young; little and tender: Describes someone, typically a child or baby, who is extremely young, small, and evokes a sense of vulnerability and tenderness. 2. Tiny and delicate: Can describe small, delicate parts of the body, like hands or feet, emphasizing their small size and fragility.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa trẻ còn bé bỏng lắm, cần được chăm sóc cẩn thận. (The child is still very little, needing careful care.)
  • Nó nhớ những ngày tháng bé bỏng bên cạnh bà ngoại. (He/She remembers the early childhood days spent with his/her grandmother.)
  • Cô ấy nắm lấy bàn tay bé bỏng của con. (She held her child's tiny hand.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to express deep affection, pity, or concern for someone very young and vulnerable.
  • Ôi, tội nghiệp đứa bé bé bỏng! (Oh, poor little baby!)
• Can be used metaphorically in poetry or literature to describe something delicate, nascent, or cherished.
  • những ký ức bé bỏng (tender memories)

Variants and Related Words

• Bé (adj): Small, little (a more general and common term).
  • đứa bé (the baby/child)
• Bé xíu (adj): Very tiny, itsy-bitsy (emphasizes extremely small size).
  • bàn chân bé xíu (itsy-bitsy feet)
• Nhỏ bé (adj): Small, little (can refer to size or stature).
  • ngôi nhà nhỏ bé (the small house)

Synonyms

• Nhỏ (adj): Small, little.
• Non nớt (adj): Immature, tender (emphasizes lack of experience or development).
• Yếu ớt (adj): Weak, frail (emphasizes lack of strength).

Related Phrases (Không phải Phrasal Verbs)

• Tuổi còn bé bỏng: Tender age, very young age.
  • Nó mới chỉ ở tuổi còn bé bỏng. (He/She is still at a very young age.)

Related Idioms

• Bé người bé của: (Idiom) Small in stature but possessing valuable qualities or assets; often used to describe a child or a small person who is precious or capable.
  • Đừng coi thường nó, bé người bé của đấy! (Don't look down on him/her, small but mighty!)

adj

1. Little and tender
   • còn bé bỏng thế kia mà đã phải xa mẹ
     so little and tender and already separated from its mother
   • bàn tay bé bỏng
     a little hand, a tiny hand