Definition

1. Verb:
   • To neglect, to abandon halfway, to leave unfinished: "bỏ bễ" describes the action of not caring for, not completing, or abandoning something that one is responsible for, often leading to its deterioration or failure.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy đã bỏ bễ việc học hành. (He has neglected his studies.)
  • Đừng bỏ bễ công việc được giao. (Don't abandon the assigned work halfway.)
  • Bỏ bễ việc nhà là không nên. (Neglecting housework is not good.)

Advanced Usage

• "bỏ bễ bổn phận": to neglect one's duty.
  • Một người lãnh đạo không được bỏ bễ bổn phận của mình. (A leader must not neglect their duty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bỏ bê (verb): This is a direct synonym with identical meaning and usage to "bỏ bễ".
  • Bố mẹ không nên bỏ bê con cái. (Parents should not neglect their children.)

Synonyms

• Lơ là: to be inattentive, to disregard (often implies less severity than "bỏ bễ").
• Sa sút: to decline, to deteriorate (often a result of being "bỏ bễ").
• Bỏ mặc: to abandon, to leave to its fate (can be stronger, implying complete desertion).

Related Idioms

• "Đầu voi đuôi chuột": Literally "elephant's head, mouse's tail"; meaning to start something with great effort but finish poorly or abandon it, closely related to the concept of "bỏ bễ".
  • Dự án này thật là đầu voi đuôi chuột. (This project started big but ended poorly [was neglected].)

1. như bỏ bê