Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Very old and frail; decrepit; doddering: Describes a person who is extremely advanced in age and whose body shows significant signs of physical weakness, feebleness, and decline, often with difficulty in movement.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông cụ ấy già khụ lắm rồi, đi lại phải có người dìu. (That old man is very decrepit now and needs someone to support him when he walks.)
  • Căn nhà của một bà già khụ ở cuối làng. (The house of a very old and frail woman at the end of the village.)
  • Trông ông ấy già khụ đi nhiều sau trận ốm. (He looks much more doddering after his illness.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "già khụ" carries a stronger connotation of physical frailty and weakness than the simple word "già" (old). It often implies a state of being worn out by age.
• It is typically used to describe people, not objects. Using it for objects would be metaphorical or poetic.

Variants and Related Words

• Già khọm (adjective): A direct synonym with identical meaning and usage (very old and frail).
• Già yếu (adjective): Old and weak. This is a more common and slightly less vivid synonym.
• Lão (adjective/noun): Old (often used in formal or literary contexts, or as a prefix like ). Can be neutral or respectful, unlike which is descriptive of condition.
• Suý (adjective, Northern dialect): Frail, weak, often due to age or illness. Can be used similarly in some contexts.

Synonyms

• Decrepit: Worn out or broken down by age or use.
• Doddering: Trembling or tottering, typically as a result of old age.
• Feeble: Lacking physical strength, especially due to age or illness.
• Infirm: Physically weak, especially due to old age.

Related Idioms

• Già nua tuổi tác: Advanced in years (a more formal phrase for being old).
• Tuổi già sức yếu: The old age and declining strength (a common phrase describing the natural weakness of old age).

1. như già khọm