Definition

1. Adverb:

   • Perfunctorily; half-heartedly: Describes an action done with minimal effort, interest, or enthusiasm, just to get by or to maintain a basic appearance of activity.
   • At an indifferent level; sparingly: Indicates doing something just enough to sustain a situation, often while waiting for something else to happen, without any vigor or commitment.

2. Verb (used with a main verb):

   • To do something in a holding pattern: To perform an action at a reduced or minimal level, typically to stall or maintain the status quo while awaiting a future event or change.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • Anh ấy chỉ làm việc cầm chừng. (He only works perfunctorily.)
  • Họ bắn cầm chừng để chờ viện binh. (They fired sporadically while waiting for reinforcements.)

• Verb (with main verb):

  • Cô ấy trả lời cầm chừng, không muốn tiết lộ thông tin. (She answered evasively, not wanting to reveal information.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a strategic or deliberate lack of effort, not merely laziness. It is used when someone is intentionally keeping activity levels low, often as a temporary measure during a period of waiting or uncertainty.

Variants and Related Words

• Làm cầm chừng: To work half-heartedly; to go through the motions.
  • Dự án bị đình trệ, nhóm chỉ làm cầm chừng. (The project is stalled, the team is just going through the motions.)

Synonyms

• Perfunctorily: Carried out with minimal effort or reflection.
• Half-heartedly: Without enthusiasm or energy.
• Sparingly: In a restricted or minimal manner.
• Indifferently: Without interest or concern.

Related Idioms

• Ăn cầm chừng: To eat just enough to get by, often due to lack of food or appetite.

  • Trong thời kỳ khó khăn, cả gia đình phải ăn cầm chừng. (During the difficult period, the whole family had to eat just enough to get by.)

• Học cầm chừng: To study without real commitment or depth.

  • Nó không có hứng thú với môn đó, nên chỉ học cầm chừng. (He has no interest in that subject, so he just studies half-heartedly.)

1. At an indifferent level, half-heartedly, perfunctorily
   • làm việc cầm chừng
     To work perfunctorily, to work half-heartedly
   • bắn cầm chừng để chờ viện binh
     to keep firing at an indifferent level while waiting for reinforcements, to fire sporadically while waiting for reinforcements