Definition

Adjective: * Slow and gentle, unhurried and graceful: Describes a slow, gentle, and flowing rhythm or movement, often with a sense of grace and leisure. It is commonly used to describe the sound of music, singing, or the movement of a procession. * (Rare) To haggle, to bargain: An archaic or rare usage meaning to negotiate over price.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (describing sound/movement):
  • Tiếng đàn nghe thật dặt dìu. (The sound of the zither is very slow and melodious.)
  • Đoàn người đi dặt dìu trong lễ rước. (The procession moved slowly and gracefully in the parade.)
  • Khúc hát dặt dìu vang lên từ căn nhà nhỏ. (The gentle and flowing song echoed from the small house.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "dặt dìu" is primarily used in literary, poetic, or descriptive contexts to evoke a specific aesthetic of slowness and grace. It is not common in everyday spoken language.
• It often forms a reduplicative pair, enhancing its descriptive quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Dìu dặt: This is a more common variant with the same meaning (slow, gentle, flowing). "Dặt dìu" is often considered a form of "dìu dặt".
  • Âm nhạc dìu dặt. (Gentle music.)
• Khoan thai: (adj) Leisurely, unhurried. A close synonym for describing movement.
• Thong thả: (adj) Leisurely, slowly. A more common synonym in everyday language.

Synonyms

• Khoan thai: Leisurely, unhurried.
• Thong thả: Leisurely, slowly.
• Êm ái: Soft, gentle (often for sound or feeling).
• Du dương: Melodious, tuneful (for music).

(Rare Usage) Different Meaning

• To haggle, to bargain: This is an old or rare meaning.
  • Hai bên dặt dìu mãi về giá cả. (The two sides haggled for a long time over the price.)

1. xem dìu dặt