Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Light-footed, nimble-footed: Describes someone who moves with agility, ease, and endurance, especially when walking or running over long distances or difficult terrain. It implies suppleness and stamina in the legs and feet.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Người leo núi này rất dẻo chân, có thể đi bộ cả ngày mà không mệt. (This mountaineer is very light-footed; he can walk all day without getting tired.)
  • Muốn trở thành một hướng dẫn viên du lịch, bạn cần phải dẻo chân. (To become a tour guide, you need to be nimble-footed.)
  • Bà tôi tuy đã già nhưng vẫn còn dẻo chân, đi chợ xa mỗi sáng. (My grandmother, though old, is still light-footed, going to the far market every morning.)

Advanced Usage

• The term dẻo chân often carries a connotation of resilience and endurance developed through habit or necessity, not just innate ability. It is commonly used to praise someone's physical stamina for walking.

Variants and Related Words

• Dẻo dai (adj): Supple, durable, resilient. This is a more general term for endurance and flexibility, which can apply to the body, materials, or even spirit.
  • Cơ thể dẻo dai. (A resilient body.)
• Nhanh nhẹn (adj): Agile, quick, nimble. This emphasizes speed and quick reflexes more than walking endurance.
  • Đứa trẻ nhanh nhẹn. (An agile child.)

Synonyms

• Đi bộ giỏi: Good at walking.
• Có sức đi bền: Having walking stamina.
• Nhanh nhẹn (in some contexts where agility is the focus): Nimble, agile.

Related Idioms

• Dẻo chân dẻo tay: Light-footed and deft-handed. This idiom describes someone who is both physically agile in movement and skillful with their hands.
  • Cô ấy dẻo chân dẻo tay, việc gì cũng làm nhanh. (She is nimble in both feet and hands, getting everything done quickly.)

1. Light-footed