Definition

Adjective: - Ragged, tattered, shabby: Describes clothing or appearance that is worn out, torn, and in very poor condition. It implies a state of disrepair and untidiness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta mặc bộ quần áo bơ xờ. (He is wearing ragged/tattered clothes.)
  • Nhìn cái áo bơ xờ ấy mà thương. (Looking at that shabby shirt makes me feel sorry.)
  • Căn nhà trông thật bơ xờ sau trận bão. (The house looked utterly dilapidated after the storm.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is considered somewhat rare and literary in modern Vietnamese. It strongly emphasizes a visual state of extreme wear, disarray, or neglect, often evoking a sense of pity.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe things other than clothing that appear dilapidated or run-down (e.g., a house, a vehicle).

Variants and Related Words

• Rách bươm (adj): Very torn, tattered. (Colloquial, more common than "bơ xờ").
• Tả tơi (adj): Torn to shreds, tattered. (Often used for flags, sails, or clothing).
• Xờ xạc (adj): Ragged, disheveled (often for hair or foliage, but can extend to appearance).

Synonyms

• rách rưới: ragged, in tatters.
• tàn tạ: worn out, decrepit (often for things or people showing age/decline).
• nhàu nát: crumpled and torn.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning is "in tatters" or "in rags". It describes a physical state of being torn and worn.
• It carries a connotation of neglect, poverty, or having endured hardship.
• While primarily for clothing, its application to objects (like a "bơ xờ" house) is an extended metaphorical use based on the same visual principle of disrepair.