Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sinuous, tortuous, winding: Describes something, typically a path, road, or line, that has many bends, turns, or twists, making it not straight or direct.
   • Figuratively, complicated or not straightforward: Can describe a process, situation, or narrative that is complex and full of difficulties or unexpected changes.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con đường lên núi rất khúc khuỷu. (The mountain road is very winding/tortuous.)
  • Dòng sông chảy khúc khuỷu qua thung lũng. (The river flows sinuously through the valley.)
  • Cuộc đời anh ấy thật khúc khuỷu. (His life has been full of twists and turns.)

Advanced Usage

• "khúc khuỷu gập ghềnh": A common collocation meaning "winding and rugged/uneven," often used to describe difficult terrain or a challenging journey.
  • Hành trình đến thành công thường khúc khuỷu gập ghềnh. (The journey to success is often winding and rugged.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khúc (n): A segment, section, or part; also used in words like (log), (piece of music).
• Khuỷu (n): The elbow (). The word metaphorically suggests something bent like an elbow.
• Quanh co (adj): Winding, roundabout, indirect. A close synonym, though can also imply evasiveness in speech.
• Ngoằn ngoèo (adj): Zigzagging, serpentine. Another synonym emphasizing sharp, repeated turns.

Synonyms

• Quanh co: winding, roundabout.
• Ngoằn ngoèo: zigzag, serpentine.
• Uốn lượn: to meander, to curve (often for rivers, roads).
• Gập ghềnh: rugged, bumpy (often used together with ).

Related Phrases (No direct phrasal verbs in Vietnamese)

• Đường đi khúc khuỷu: a winding road/path.
• Số phận khúc khuỷu: a fate/destiny full of vicissitudes.

Related Idioms

• "Đường đời khúc khuỷu": The road of life is winding. This idiom expresses that life is not straightforward and is filled with challenges and unexpected events.
  • Ai cũng phải trải qua một quãng đường đời khúc khuỷu. (Everyone must go through a winding stretch of life's road.)

adjective

1. sinuous; tortuous