khuất khúc
Definition
- Adjective:
- Winding or meandering: Describes a path, line, or course that has many bends, curves, or turns, and is not straight.
- Indirect or circuitous: Can describe speech, reasoning, or actions that are not straightforward, clear, or direct.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Con đường mòn lên núi rất khuất khúc. (The mountain trail is very winding.)
- Anh ấy trả lời một cách khuất khúc, không đi thẳng vào vấn đề. (He answered in a roundabout way, not addressing the issue directly.)
Advanced Usage
- Used metaphorically to describe complex, non-linear narratives or thought processes.
- Câu chuyện của ông ấy nghe thật khuất khúc và khó theo dõi. (His story sounds very convoluted and hard to follow.)
Variants and Related Words
- Quanh co (adj): winding, roundabout. Often used interchangeably with "khuất khúc" but can imply more intentional evasion.
- Khúc khuỷu (adj): rugged, uneven, and twisting (often for roads or terrain). It emphasizes physical difficulty more than "khuất khúc."
Synonyms
- Winding: having a twisting or spiral course.
- Meandering: following a winding course.
- Circuitous: longer than the most direct way; indirect.
- Convoluted: extremely complex and difficult to follow (for speech/narrative).
Related Idioms
- Đường đi khuất khúc: a winding road. Often used literally but can be a metaphor for a complicated life path or process.
- Sự nghiệp của anh ấy là một con đường đi khuất khúc. (His career has been a winding road.)