Definition

1. Adjective (Reduplicative Compound):
   • Uneven, bumpy, rough: Describes a surface, road, or path that is not smooth, having many small ups and downs, irregularities, or obstacles. It emphasizes a repetitive, discontinuous, and irregular quality.
   • Jerky, jolting: Can describe a manner of movement that is not smooth, characterized by sudden starts, stops, or bumps.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con đường vào làng khấp kha khấp khểnh. (The road into the village is very bumpy.)
  • Chiếc xe chạy khấp kha khấp khểnh trên đoạn đường đá. (The car moved jerkily along the stone road.)
  • Mặt bàn này khấp kha khấp khểnh, cần phải bào lại. (This tabletop is uneven and needs to be planed again.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "khấp kha khấp khểnh" is a specific, expressive reduplication of the core adjective "khấp khểnh." The added "kha" intensifies the sense of irregularity and discontinuity, making it more vivid and descriptive than the base word alone. It is primarily used in spoken and descriptive written Vietnamese.

Variants and Related Words

• Khấp khểnh (adj): The base form meaning uneven, bumpy, or rough.
  • Giấc ngủ khấp khểnh. (A fitful sleep.)

Synonyms

• Gồ ghề: rugged, rough (often for terrain).
• Mấp mô: uneven, bumpy (for surfaces).
• Không bằng phẳng: not flat, not level.

Related Idioms

• While not a standalone idiom, the phrase is often used descriptively within larger contexts to evoke a sense of physical difficulty or irregular progress.
  • Cuộc sống khấp kha khấp khểnh. (A life full of ups and downs/trials and tribulations.) This is a metaphorical extension of the core meaning.

1. xem khấp khểnh (láy)