bận bịu

Definition

Adjective:
- To be busy / to be occupied: Describes a state of having many tasks or responsibilities that require one's time and attention, often implying a sense of being tied down or engrossed.
- To be preoccupied / to be engrossed: Indicates being mentally absorbed or concerned with specific matters, such as family or work.
Verb (descriptive):
- To be tied up with: Functions as a descriptive verb to express being actively engaged or involved in activities, leading to a lack of free time.

Usage Examples

Adjective:
- Cô ấy luôn bận bịu với công việc. (She is always busy with work.)
- Anh ấy bận bịu tổ chức một sự kiện lớn. (He is busy organizing a major event.)
Verb (descriptive):
- Tôi đang bận bịu nên không thể đi chơi. (I am tied up, so I cannot go out.)
- Họ bận bịu với việc chăm sóc con nhỏ. (They are engrossed in taking care of their young child.)

Advanced Usage

The word often carries a nuance of being or busy, more so than the simpler word "bận." It can imply a tangle of duties.
It is frequently used to describe being busy with ongoing, sometimes mundane or routine, life responsibilities.

Variants and Related Words

Bận (adj): Busy. A more common and general term for being busy.
- Tôi rất bận ngày mai. (I am very busy tomorrow.)
Bận rộn (adj): Busy, bustling. Emphasizes a state of active busyness.
- Mùa lễ hội, mọi người đều bận rộn. (During the festival season, everyone is bustling.)

Synonyms

Related Idioms and Phrases

Bận bịu việc nước việc nhà: To be busy with both public and domestic duties; to be occupied with matters of state and household.
- Người lãnh đạo ấy lúc nào cũng bận bịu việc nước việc nhà. (That leader is always occupied with both state and family affairs.)
Bận bịu cơm áo gạo tiền: To be preoccupied with the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, rice, money).
- Cuộc sống mưu sinh khiến họ lúc nào cũng bận bịu cơm áo gạo tiền. (The struggle to make a living keeps them constantly preoccupied with daily necessities.)