Definition

1. Adjective:
   • (Of clothing) Short and tight-fitting: Describes garments that are both short in length and fit closely to the body, often uncomfortably so.
   • Embarrassed; Shy; Ill at ease: Describes a state of feeling awkward, bashful, or self-conscious, often in a new social situation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Clothing):

  • Chiếc áo này chẽn quá, tôi không thể cử động thoải mái. (This jacket is too tight and short, I can't move comfortably.)
  • Cô ấy mặc một chiếc áo chẽn màu đỏ. (She is wearing a short, tight-fitting red blouse.)

• Adjective (Feeling):

  • Lần đầu gặp mặt, cô ấy trông rất chẽn. (At the first meeting, she looked very shy/ill at ease.)
  • Cô dâu mới còn chẽn nên ít nói chuyện. (The new bride is still bashful, so she talks little.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "chẽn" is considered somewhat colloquial and is more commonly used in spoken Vietnamese than in formal writing.
• When describing clothing, it often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying the garment is uncomfortably tight or inappropriately short.
• When describing a person's demeanor, it specifically refers to the temporary shyness or awkwardness of someone in an unfamiliar setting (like a new bride or a newcomer), not a permanent personality trait.

Variants and Related Words

• Chật chội (adj): Cramped, tight (for spaces or clothing). Focuses more on lack of space rather than shortness.
• Ngắn cũn (adj): Very short (for clothing). Emphasizes shortness, not necessarily tightness.
• Bẽn lẽn / Ngại ngùng (adj): Shy, bashful. More common synonyms for the emotional meaning of "chẽn".

Synonyms

• (For clothing): Chật, bó sát (tight, form-fitting).
• (For feeling): Ngượng ngùng, bối rối, rụt rè (embarrassed, flustered, timid).

Related Idioms

• "Chẽn như nêm": (Tight as a wedge). An idiom emphasizing something is extremely tight-fitting.
  • Chiếc áo khoác này chẽn như nêm, tôi không thể kéo khóa lên được. (This coat is tight as a wedge, I can't zip it up.)
• "Làm cho ai chẽn": To make someone feel embarrassed or awkward.
  • Câu hỏi bất ngờ của anh ấy làm cho cô ấy chẽn. (His unexpected question made her feel awkward.)

adj

1. (nói về quần áo) Short and closefitting
   • áo chẽn
     a short and closefitting jacket