Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Hasty, hurried, rushed: Describes an action performed with excessive speed and urgency, often resulting in carelessness or lack of thoroughness.
   • Anxious, agitated: Describes a state of nervousness or unease due to haste or impatience.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy làm việc một cách bơ bải nên mắc nhiều sai sót. (He worked in a hurried manner, so he made many mistakes.)
  • Đừng có bơ bải thế, cứ từ từ cho chắc. (Don't be so hasty; take it slow to be sure.)
  • Cô ấy có vẻ bơ bải vì sợ trễ hẹn. (She seemed agitated because she was afraid of being late for the appointment.)

Advanced Usage

• "bơ bải" is a relatively rare and somewhat literary word in modern Vietnamese. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the haste is unnecessary, counterproductive, or stems from anxiety.
• It can describe both a person's internal state (feeling rushed) and the external quality of an action (performed hastily).

Variants and Related Words

• Vội vàng (adj/adv): Hurried, in a hurry. This is the most common and neutral synonym.
• Cuống quýt (adj): Flustered, panicky. Implies a loss of composure due to haste or surprise.
• Hấp tấp (adj): Rash, impulsive. Focuses on acting without thinking due to haste.

Synonyms

• Vội vã: Hurriedly.
• Gấp gáp: Urgent, pressing.
• Lật đật: Bustling, in a busy rush.

Related Idioms

• Bơ bải chẳng bằng phải thì: A proverb meaning "Haste is not as good as timeliness" or "More haste, less speed." It teaches that rushed, poorly timed action is worse than calm, well-timed action.
  • Nhớ câu tục ngữ "Bơ bải chẳng bằng phải thì" mà làm việc cho cẩn thận. (Remember the proverb "Haste is not as good as timeliness" and work carefully.)