buông lơi
Definition
- Verb:
- To let go, to release one's hold, to slacken: To stop holding or controlling something, allowing it to become loose or free. Often implies a deliberate or careless release of grip, attention, or control.
- To neglect, to be lax: To fail to maintain proper care, attention, or strictness over something (e.g., a duty, discipline, or a person).
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy buông lơi dây cương, con ngựa bắt đầu chạy nhanh hơn. (He slackened the reins, and the horse began to run faster.)
- Không được buông lơi việc học hành. (You must not neglect your studies.)
- Người quản lý buông lơi kỷ luật dẫn đến nhiều vấn đề. (The manager was lax with discipline, leading to many problems.)
Advanced Usage
- "buông lơi tay chèo": Literally "to let go of the oars"; figuratively means to give up, to stop striving or making an effort in a difficult situation.
- Giữa khó khăn, anh ta đã buông lơi tay chèo. (Amid difficulties, he gave up.)
Variants and Related Words
- Buông lỏng (verb): To loosen, to relax (control, management). Often used interchangeably with "buông lơi" but can sound slightly more formal or technical.
- buông lỏng quản lý (to relax management)
- Buông (verb): To let go, to release. The root verb.
- Lơi (adjective/adverb): Loose, slack. Describes the state of being not tight.
Synonyms
- Thả lỏng: To let loose, to relax (control).
- Bỏ mặc: To abandon, to leave to its own fate (stronger connotation of abandonment).
- Lơ là: To be negligent, inattentive (focuses on lack of attention).
Related Phrases
- Buông lơi trách nhiệm: To neglect one's responsibility.
- Anh ta đã buông lơi trách nhiệm của một người cha. (He neglected the responsibility of a father.)
Related Idioms
- Buông lơi như con diều đứt dây: Literally "to let go like a kite with a broken string"; means to let something go completely, with no control or hope of retrieval, often resulting in loss or failure.
- Công việc kinh doanh buông lơi như con diều đứt dây. (The business was let go completely/left to fail.)