chậm chân
Definition
- Adjective:
- Slow-footed, late to arrive or act: Describes someone who arrives too late to get or do something, or who acts too slowly compared to others, often missing an opportunity.
- Laggard, tardy: Characterizes a person or action as being behind schedule or slower than the competition.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Tôi đến muộn và đã chậm chân mất vé. (I arrived late and was too slow to get a ticket.)
- Công ty của họ luôn chậm chân trong việc áp dụng công nghệ mới. (Their company is always lagging in adopting new technology.)
- Nếu bạn chậm chân, bạn sẽ bỏ lỡ cơ hội. (If you are slow to act, you will miss the opportunity.)
Advanced Usage
"bị chậm chân": to be the slow one, to be left behind.
- Trong cuộc đua thị trường, ai bị chậm chân sẽ thua. (In the market race, whoever is left behind will lose.)
"chậm chân một bước": to be one step behind.
- Đối thủ của chúng ta chậm chân một bước trong đàm phán. (Our competitor was one step behind in the negotiations.)
Variants and Related Words
- Chậm trễ (adj, v): Delayed, to delay. This is a more general term for lateness or procrastination, not specifically tied to a missed opportunity.
- Trễ chân (adj): Literally "late-footed," a less common synonym with a very similar meaning to "chậm chân."
Synonyms
- Muộn: Late (in a general sense regarding time).
- Lề mề: Slow, dilatory (describes a slow, dragging manner).
Related Idioms
- "Đến sau vỗ gáy": Literally "to arrive late and pat the neck," meaning to arrive when everything is already finished or decided. This idiom conveys a similar consequence to being "chậm chân."
- "Mất cơ hội vàng": To miss a golden opportunity. This describes the typical result of being "chậm chân."