Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Completely, utterly, thoroughly: Used to intensify adjectives, indicating a state of being extremely or completely in a certain condition, often in a negative or chaotic sense.
   • Very, extremely: Functions as an intensifier, similar to "rất" (very) but often with a stronger, more emphatic connotation, typically used in literary or formal contexts.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Công việc này rối bời. (This work is utterly tangled/completely chaotic.)
  • Tâm trí cô ấy hỗn độn bời. (Her mind is extremely confused.)
  • Sợi dây bị rối bời. (The string is thoroughly tangled.)

Advanced Usage

• "rối bời": A common fixed collocation meaning "extremely tangled/chaotic".
  • Tình hình chính trị rối bời. (The political situation is extremely chaotic.)
• "bời bời": A reduplicated form for stronger emphasis, meaning "extremely, exceedingly, in great abundance".
  • Công việc chất đống bời bời. (Work is piled up exceedingly high.)
  • Lòng tham nổi lên bời bời. (Greed arose in great abundance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rối bời (adj phrase): Extremely tangled, chaotic, messy.
  • Mớ chỉ rối bời. (The bundle of thread is a complete mess.)
• Bời bời (adv): An intensified reduplicated form of "bời".

Synonyms

• Rất: Very.
• Vô cùng: Extremely, immensely.
• Hết sức: Utterly, to the utmost.
• Cực kỳ: Extremely.

Notes on Usage

• bời is almost never used alone in modern Vietnamese. Its primary and almost exclusive function is as an intensifying adverb in the fixed phrase "rối bời" and its reduplicated form "bời bời".
• It carries a literary or formal tone and is used for strong emphasis, often describing negative states of confusion, disorder, or complexity.
• The reference "xem rối bời" indicates that the standard dictionary entry for "bời" directs the user to see the phrase "rối bời," confirming its primary usage is within this compound.

1. xem rối bời