kheo khéo
Definition
- Adverb (phó từ):
- Quite skillfully, rather deftly: Indicates an action performed with a moderate or noticeable degree of skill, cleverness, or dexterity.
- Carefully, cautiously: Used to advise someone to be careful or to handle a situation with tact to avoid negative consequences.
Usage Examples
As an adverb meaning "quite skillfully":
- Cô ấy kheo khéo lắp ráp mô hình. (She assembled the model quite skillfully.)
- Anh ta kheo khéo từ chối lời mời mà không làm mất lòng ai. (He rather deftly declined the invitation without offending anyone.)
As an adverb meaning "carefully/caution" (often used as a warning):
- Kheo khéo với cái bình đó, nó dễ vỡ lắm. (Be careful with that vase, it's very fragile.)
- Kheo khéo kẻo thầy giáo phát hiện. (Be careful, or the teacher will find out.)
Advanced Usage
- Implied warning: The word often carries an implicit warning or advice to act with discretion. The negative consequence ("kẻo...") is sometimes stated and sometimes just implied.
- Nói chuyện kheo khéo một chút. (Talk a bit more carefully/tactfully. [Implied: or you might cause trouble].)
Variants and Related Words
- Khéo (adj/adv): The root word, meaning skillful, clever, or deftly. "Kheo khéo" is a reduplicated form that softens or slightly modifies the meaning.
- Cô ấy đan len rất khéo. (She knits very skillfully.)
- Khéo léo (adj): Skillful, dexterous, tactful (more formal and stronger than "kheo khéo").
- Người thợ thủ công khéo léo. (The skillful craftsman.)
Synonyms
- Cẩn thận: Carefully (closer to the "caution" meaning).
- Khôn khéo: Astute, shrewd (emphasizes cleverness in social situations).
- Tinh tế: Subtle, refined (emphasizes delicacy and perceptiveness).
Related Phrases
- Ăn nói kheo khéo: To speak tactfully.
- Trong cuộc họp, cô ấy ăn nói rất kheo khéo. (During the meeting, she spoke very tactfully.)
- Xử sự kheo khéo: To behave/act with discretion.
- Tình huống này cần phải xử sự cho kheo khéo. (This situation requires you to act with discretion.)
Notes on Usage
- Tone: "Kheo khéo" is commonly used in spoken Vietnamese. It has a colloquial and advisory tone.
- Reduplication: The reduplicated form "kheo khéo" often indicates a milder, more approximate, or more advisory sense compared to the single root word "khéo". It can mean "somewhat skillful" or serve as a gentle admonition to "be careful".