bài liệt
Definition
- Adjective:
- Weak, feeble, debilitated: Describes a state of physical weakness, lack of strength, or general infirmity.
- Exhausted, worn out: Refers to being extremely tired or drained of energy and vitality.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Sau trận ốm nặng, cơ thể anh ấy trở nên bài liệt. (After the serious illness, his body became weak and debilitated.)
- Những năm tháng chiến tranh khiến người dân bài liệt cả về thể chất lẫn tinh thần. (The war years left the people exhausted both physically and mentally.)
Advanced Usage
- This is a literary and somewhat rare term in modern Vietnamese. It is used to convey a profound or severe state of weakness, often with a classical or formal tone.
- It can describe both physical and metaphorical exhaustion (e.g., of a nation, spirit).
Variants and Related Words
- Kiệt sức (adj): Exhausted, spent. (More common in modern usage)
- Suy nhược (adj): Debilitated, weakened. (Often used in medical contexts)
- Mệt lử / Mệt nhoài (adj): Extremely tired, dead tired. (Colloquial)
Synonyms
- Yếu ớt: Weak, frail.
- Mệt mỏi: Tired, weary.
- Rã rời: Worn out, spent.
Notes on Meaning
- The core meaning revolves around a significant loss of strength or vitality.
- The reference definition "disposer" (French for 'to arrange' or 'to set out') from the Vietnamese-French dictionary appears to be an error or a highly obscure/archaic usage not reflected in modern Vietnamese. The standard and primary meaning is related to weakness and exhaustion.