dẻo tay
Definition
- Adjective phrase:
- Skillful with one's hands; dexterous: Describes a person who is adept at manual tasks, able to work with their hands in a clever, agile, and effective manner. It implies a natural talent or developed skill for crafting, repairing, or manipulating objects.
- Having a deft touch: Often refers to a specific ability in activities like cooking, sewing, crafting, or playing a musical instrument where manual precision is key.
Usage Examples
- Adjective phrase: (She sews very beautiful dresses, she is truly skillful with her hands.) (To sculpt clay statues like that, you must have very dexterous hands.) (That dexterous carpenter created a wonderful wooden cabinet.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used in a comparative or superlative sense. (Among the goldsmiths, he is the most skillful with his hands.)
Variants and Related Words
- Khéo tay (adj phrase): Also means skillful with hands; often used interchangeably with "dẻo tay," though "khéo tay" can sometimes emphasize neatness and precision, while "dẻo tay" may emphasize flexibility and agility. (She is skillful at decorating cakes.)
Synonyms
- Dexterous: Skillful in using the hands.
- Nimble-fingered: Having quick and light movements of the fingers.
- Handy: Skillful with the hands (informal).
- Adroit: Clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Related Idioms
- Dẻo tay hay nghề: A common saying praising someone who is both dexterous and proficient in their craft. It emphasizes that skill ("dẻo tay") and professional expertise ("hay nghề") go together. (That craftsman is dexterous and proficient, trusted by everyone.)