Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Swollen in a bulky, cumbersome, or inconvenient way: Describes something that has become enlarged or puffed up, resulting in an awkward, obstructive, or unsightly appearance. It often implies the swelling causes physical discomfort or practical difficulty.
   • Protruding awkwardly: Refers to something that sticks out in a bulky or ungainly manner, creating an obstruction.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cái túi đựng quá nhiều quần áo trông kệnh ra. (The bag holding too many clothes looks cumbersomely swollen.)
  • Vết thương bị nhiễm trùng, kệnh lên và rất đau. (The wound got infected, swollen up and very painful.)
  • Anh ta nhét chiếc điện thoại kệnh trong túi quần. (He stuffed the phone bulkily into his pants pocket.)

Advanced Usage

• "kệnh ra": to swell or bulge out awkwardly.

  • Chiếc vali đóng quá đầy khiến khóa kệnh ra. (The suitcase was packed too full, causing the zipper to bulge out awkwardly.)

• "trông kệnh lên": to look swollen/bulky (often used to describe the appearance of an overstuffed object).

  • Chiếc ba lô chứa đầy sách trông kệnh lên. (The backpack full of books looks cumbersomely swollen.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kềnh kệnh (reduplicative form, with a slight diminutive or softened meaning): Describes a state of being slightly swollen, puffy, or bulky, often causing mild discomfort or annoyance.
  • Mắt tôi bị dị ứng, sưng kềnh kệnh. (My eyes are allergic, swollen puffily.)
  • Cái gối lông vũ cũ kềnh kệnh chiếm nhiều chỗ trên ghế. (The old feather pillow is bulkily taking up a lot of space on the chair.)

Synonyms

• Phồng (adj): swollen, inflated (a more general term for swelling).
• Sưng (adj): swollen (typically due to injury or illness).
• Cồng kềnh (adj): bulky, cumbersome, unwieldy (emphasizes size and inconvenience more than the act of swelling).

Notes on Meaning

• The word "kệnh" specifically describes the resultant state of being awkwardly swollen or bulky, often due to being overfilled or obstructed. It is not typically used for graceful or natural swelling.
• It often carries a negative connotation of inconvenience, discomfort, or being an eyesore.
• The reduplicative form "kềnh kệnh" is very common and can sometimes sound more natural than the single form "kệnh".

1. Swell cumbrously
   • Túi nhét đầy mọi thứ đồ vật trông kệnh lên
     The bag was stuffed with all kinds of things and looked cumbrously swollen
2. Kềnh kệnh (láy, ý giảm)
   • Bụi vào mắt kềnh kệnh khó chịu
     Some speck of dust has got into an eye and swollen it uncomfortably