Definition

Adjective: 1. Backward, lagging behind, underdeveloped: Describes a state of being significantly behind others in progress, development, or modernity. It often implies a lack of advancement compared to a standard or expectation. 2. Coming in dead last (in a competition): Used to describe a performance or result that is the absolute worst among competitors, finishing far behind everyone else.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Khu vực này vẫn còn bì bẹt so với thành phố. (This area is still backward / lagging behind compared to the city.)
  • Nền kinh tế của nước đó khá bì bẹt. (That country's economy is quite underdeveloped.)
  • Đội của chúng tôi về bì bẹt trong cuộc đua. (Our team came in dead last in the race.)

Advanced Usage

• The word bì bẹt carries a strong negative and critical connotation. It is often used to express disappointment, criticism, or to highlight a stark contrast in development or performance.
• It can be used in both formal contexts (e.g., discussing economic development) and informal contexts (e.g., talking about sports results), though its bluntness makes it more common in critical analysis or casual speech than in polite, neutral description.

Variants and Related Words

• Bẹt (adj, informal): Can mean "flat" or "squashed," and by extension, "defeated" or "flopped." The word bì bẹt likely evolved from this sense of being flattened or thoroughly beaten.
• Tụt hậu (verb phrase): To fall behind, to lag behind. This is a more standard and commonly used term than bì bẹt.
• Lạc hậu (adj): Backward, obsolete. Often used for ideas, technology, or methods.

Synonyms

• Tụt hậu (lagging behind)
• Lạc hậu (backward, obsolete)
• Chậm phát triển (underdeveloped)
• Bét (last place, informal - often used in competitions)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• (Về) bét bẹt / (Về) bét (informal): To finish in last place, to come in dead last. This is a very common colloquial phrase for competitions.
  • Anh ấy chạy về bét bẹt. (He ran and came in dead last.)

adj

1. Backward, lagging behind