Definition

1. Adjective/Adverb:
   • To the point of satiety or boredom; to one's full satisfaction; more than enough: "chán chê" describes the state of having done something so fully, thoroughly, or for so long that one feels completely satisfied, or even slightly weary or bored from the excess. It implies a sense of completeness, often with a positive connotation of indulgence, but can also imply a tedious duration.

Usage Examples

• Adjective/Adverb:
  • Cả nhà được ăn uống chán chê trong đám cưới. (The whole family ate to their heart's content at the wedding.)
  • Tôi đã ngủ chán chê sau chuyến bay dài. (I slept my fill after the long flight.)
  • Bọn trẻ chơi đùa chán chê ở công viên. (The children played to their full satisfaction at the park.)

Advanced Usage

• "chán chê" to express a long, tedious wait: Often used with verbs like "chờ" (to wait) to emphasize an excessively long and tiresome duration.
  • Chúng tôi đứng chờ chán chê ngoài trời mưa. (We waited an awfully long time in the rain.)
• "chán chê" to indicate thoroughness or completeness: Used to stress that an action was done completely or an experience was had in full.
  • Cô ấy đã khóc chán chê rồi mới nguôi ngoai. (She cried her eyes out before finally calming down.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chán (adj/verb): To be bored, fed up, or tired of something. This is the root word, conveying the core sense of weariness or dissatisfaction.
  • Tôi chán bài hát này rồi. (I'm bored of this song.)
• No nê (adj): To be fully satisfied, sated (often used with eating/drinking). It is a close synonym but lacks the slight nuance of potential tediousness that "chán chê" can carry.
  • Ăn no nê. (To eat one's fill.)

Synonyms

• Thỏa thích: To one's heart's content, freely and satisfyingly.
• Tới bến (colloquial): Thoroughly, completely (often for negative experiences).
• Đã đời (colloquial): Satisfyingly, to the full.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Làm cho chán chê: To do something to the point of satiety/boredom.
  • Mẹ nấu món ngon cho cả nhà ăn cho chán chê. (Mother cooked delicious food for the whole family to eat to their full satisfaction.)

Related Idioms

• Ăn chán chê, mặc sướng tay: (To eat to satiety, to dress comfortably). An idiom describing a life of material comfort and plenty.
  • Cô ấy mong ước một cuộc sống ăn chán chê, mặc sướng tay. (She dreams of a life of plenty and comfort.)

1. More than enough
   • ăn uống chán chê mà không hết
     we ate more than enough but there was still plenty of food left
   • chờ chán chê mà chẳng thấy anh ta đến
     we waited longer than enough without seeing him show up