bôi lem
Definition
- Verb:
- To smear or daub messily: The primary meaning of "bôi lem" is to apply a substance (like paint, ink, mud, or food) onto a surface in a careless, untidy, or excessive way, resulting in a dirty or stained appearance.
- To sully or tarnish (figurative): It can be used metaphorically to mean damaging someone's reputation or image.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đứa trẻ bôi lem sơn lên tường. (The child smeared paint on the wall.)
- Cẩn thận kẻo bôi lem mực vào sách. (Be careful not to smear ink on the book.)
- Những tin đồn vô căn cứ đã bôi lem danh tiếng của ông ấy. (The baseless rumors tarnished his reputation.)
Advanced Usage
- The verb often implies a result that is visually messy, dirty, or unacceptable, rather than the act of applying something neatly.
Variants and Related Words
- Bôi (v): to apply, to spread (a substance). This is the root verb, while "bôi lem" emphasizes the messy result.
- Bôi kem lên da. (Apply cream to the skin.)
- Lem nhem (adj): smeared, smudged, messy (often describing the state after being "bôi lem").
- Khuôn mặt lem nhem. (A smeared face.)
Synonyms
- Smear: to spread a substance messily.
- Daub: to coat or smear with a thick, sticky substance.
- Sully: to damage the purity or integrity of; to tarnish (figurative).
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Bôi lem danh dự: to tarnish someone's honor.
- Hành động đó bôi lem danh dự cả gia đình. (That action tarnished the family's honor.)
- Mặt mũi bôi lem: (literally "face is smeared") means to be disgraced or to lose face.
- Sự việc khiến anh ta mặt mũi bôi lem. (The incident caused him to be disgraced.)