Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Negligent; lax; slack: Describes a state of being careless, inattentive, or not giving proper care and attention to one's duties or responsibilities.
   • Remiss: Failing to fulfill one's duty through carelessness or lack of effort.

2. Verb:

   • To neglect; to be remiss in; to slack off in: The act of failing to give proper attention or care to a task, duty, or area of responsibility.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Việc canh gác chểnh mảng tạo ra lỗ hổng an ninh. (Negligent guard duty creates a security gap.)
  • Thái độ chểnh mảng của anh ấy khiến mọi người lo lắng. (His lax attitude worries everyone.)

• Verb:

  • Nó đã chểnh mảng việc học hành trong suốt học kỳ. (He neglected his studies throughout the semester.)
  • Không được chểnh mảng bất kỳ nhiệm vụ nào. (Do not be remiss in any of your duties.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often implies a dereliction of a duty that one is expected or obligated to perform. It carries a tone of criticism for a lack of diligence.
• It can describe a temporary state or a habitual character trait.

Variants and Related Words

• Sự chểnh mảng (n): Negligence; laxity; remissness.
  • Sự chểnh mảng trong công việc là không thể chấp nhận được. (Negligence in work is unacceptable.)

Synonyms

• Negligent: Failing to take proper care.
• Remiss: Lacking care or attention to duty.
• Lax: Not sufficiently strict or careful.
• Slack: Not diligent or energetic.

Antonyms

• Diligent: Having or showing care in one's work or duties.
• Conscientious: Wishing to do one's work well and thoroughly.
• Attentive: Paying close attention.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Học hành chểnh mảng: To neglect one's studies; to be slack in one's studies.

  • Bố mẹ lo lắng vì con cái học hành chểnh mảng. (Parents worry because their children are neglecting their studies.)

• Làm việc chểnh mảng: To work in a negligent or slack manner.

  • Anh ta bị khiển trách vì làm việc chểnh mảng. (He was reprimanded for working in a negligent manner.)

verb

1. To neglect, to slack off in (one's duty)
   • chểnh mảng việc học hành
     to neglect (slack off in) one's studies
   • canh gác chểnh mảng
     to mount negligent guard, to mount lax guard