Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Blunt; not sharp: Describes a cutting tool (like a knife, scissors) whose edge has worn down and lost its sharpness.
   • Worn-out; stubby: Describes an object that has become shortened or frayed from extensive use, losing its original form or effectiveness (e.g., a broom, a pencil).
   • Dull; obtuse (figurative): Used colloquially to describe a person's behavior, attitude, or intellect as being stubbornly insensitive, unresponsive, or lacking in sharpness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con dao này cùn rồi, không cắt được nữa. (This knife is blunt; it can't cut anymore.)
  • Cây chổi cùn quá, nên thay cái mới. (The broom is too worn-out; we should get a new one.)
  • Anh ta trả lời một cách cùn lì, không quan tâm đến cảm xúc của ai. (He answered in a dull and stubborn way, not caring about anyone's feelings.)

Advanced Usage

• "cùn mòn": to become dulled or worn down over time, often used figuratively.
  • Sự sáng tạo của anh ấy dần cùn mòn vì công việc nhàm chán. (His creativity gradually became dulled by the boring job.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lụt cùn (adj): very blunt; completely dull.
  • Lưỡi dao lụt cùn, chẳng dùng vào việc gì được. (The knife blade is completely blunt and useless.)

Synonyms

• Blunt: not sharp (for edges).
• Dull: lacking sharpness; not intellectually bright.
• Worn-out: exhausted from use.
• Obtuse: annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.

Related Idioms

• Cùn như chày: as blunt as a pestle; used to describe something extremely dull or a person who is very obtuse.

  • Cái kéo này cùn như chày, cắt giấy còn không xong. (These scissors are as blunt as a pestle; they can't even cut paper.)

• Giở thói cùn: to act in a stubbornly insensitive or brazen manner.

  • Hắn lại giở thói cùn, không chịu nghe lời khuyên của ai. (He acted in his brazen manner again, refusing to listen to anyone's advice.)

adj

1. Blunt; blunt pointed
   • dao cùn
     A blunt knife,
2. Worn-out
   • chổi cùn
     A worn out broom
3. Stubbled;Rusty