Definition

Adjective/Adverb (tính từ/trạng từ): - Vague, aimless, idle: Describes speech, thoughts, or actions that lack a clear purpose, specific target, or serious intent. It often implies something said or done casually, without focus or deep consideration.

Usage Examples

• Adjective/Adverb:
  • Anh ấy chỉ nói bâng quơ vài câu. (He just said a few vague/aimless words.)
  • Cô ấy trả lời bâng quơ khi được hỏi về kế hoạch. (She gave a vague/offhand answer when asked about her plans.)
  • Đừng có nhìn bâng quơ như thế, hãy tập trung! (Don't stare vacantly/idly like that, focus!)

Advanced Usage

• "nói chuyện bâng quơ": to make small talk; to chat idly about unimportant things.
  • Họ ngồi quán cà phê nói chuyện bâng quơ cả buổi chiều. (They sat in the coffee shop making small talk/idly chatting all afternoon.)
• "suy nghĩ bâng quơ": to have wandering, unfocused thoughts.
  • Tâm trí cô ấy suy nghĩ bâng quơ về những chuyện không đâu. (Her mind wandered idly to trivial matters.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bâng khuâng (adj): A state of pensive melancholy, wistfulness, or lingering sadness. (Note: This is a distinct word with a different meaning related to lingering emotion, not aimlessness.)
• Quơ (verb): To grab or sweep at something hastily or carelessly. (This is the root verb, giving "bâng quơ" a sense of a careless, sweeping action of the mind or speech.)

Synonyms

• Vu vơ: aimless, without a specific target (very close in meaning, often interchangeable).
• Lơ đãng: absent-minded, inattentive.
• Không đầu không cuối: without beginning or end; incoherent (describing speech/narrative).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Nói bâng quơ nói bâng quẩy": (A rhyming phrase) To talk nonsense or ramble aimlessly.
  • Cậu ta cứ nói bâng quơ nói bâng quẩy mãi, chẳng hiểu ý gì. (He kept rambling on and on aimlessly; I couldn't understand his point.)

adj

1. Vague
   • nói vài câu chuyện bâng quơ
     to say a few vague words for conversation's sake
   • trả lời bâng quơ
     to give a vague answer