chì bì
Definition
- Adjective:
- Taciturn and impassive, sullenly silent: Describes a person who is habitually quiet, uncommunicative, and shows little emotion or reaction, often while remaining inactive or withdrawn in a corner or secluded spot.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Anh ấy ngồi chì bì một xó cả ngày. (He sat sullenly silent in a corner all day.)
- Sau thất bại, cô ấy trở nên chì bì, ít nói chuyện với ai. (After the failure, she became taciturn and impassive, rarely talking to anyone.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "chì bì" is often used in a somewhat negative or critical context to describe someone who is overly passive, unresponsive, or withdrawn from social interaction, not just ordinarily quiet.
Variants and Related Words
- Lì bì (adj): An alternative or intensified form with a similar meaning, often implying stubborn impassivity or sluggishness.
- Thằng bé lì bì chẳng chịu nghe lời. (The boy is stubbornly impassive and won't listen.)
- Ủ rũ (adj): Droopy, listless, downcast. While similar in describing a withdrawn state, it often focuses more on sadness or low spirits rather than just impassive silence.
- Trầm mặc (adj): Reticent, quiet, meditative. This term can have a more neutral or even positive connotation compared to "chì bì".
Synonyms
- Lầm lì (adj): Taciturn, sullen, morose.
- Im lặng một cách lì lợm (phrase): Stubbornly silent.
- Thụ động (adj): Passive (more general, not specific to silence).
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Ngồi chì bì một xó: To sit sullenly and impassively in a corner; to be withdrawn and inactive.
- Đừng có ngồi chì bì một xó thế, ra ngoài giao lưu với mọi người đi. (Don't just sit there sullenly in a corner like that, go out and socialize with people.)