làm đỏm

Definition

Verb:
- To act coquettishly, to flirt, to put on airs: "làm đỏm" describes the action of behaving in a way intended to attract attention, admiration, or romantic interest, often through exaggerated or affected mannerisms, speech, or appearance. It implies a deliberate, sometimes showy, display of charm or attractiveness.

Usage Examples

Verb:
- Cô ấy luôn làm đỏm trước mặt mọi người. (She always acts coquettishly in front of everyone.)
- Đi đâu mà làm đỏm thế? (Where are you going, all dressed up and putting on airs like that?)
- Anh ta ngừng làm đỏm khi nhận ra không ai để ý. (He stopped flirting when he realized no one was paying attention.)

Advanced Usage

"làm đỏm làm dáng": This is a common, emphatic reduplicative phrase that intensifies the meaning, emphasizing excessive or obvious coquettish behavior.
- Cô ta suốt ngày chỉ biết làm đỏm làm dáng. (All day long, she does nothing but put on airs and act coquettishly.)

Variants and Related Words

Làm dáng (verb): This is the direct synonym and the more common variant. It has the same meaning: to act coquettishly, to pose, to put on airs.
- Làm dáng is often used interchangeably with làm đỏm.
Điệu đà (adjective): Describes a person or their behavior as affectedly charming, coquettish, or dainty.
- Cô ấy ăn nói rất điệu đà. (She speaks in a very coquettish/affected manner.)

Synonyms

Làm bộ làm tịch: To put on an act, to feign (often with a negative connotation of being fake or insincere).
Ra vẻ: To put on airs, to pretend to be (something one is not).
Tán tỉnh: To flirt, to court (focuses more on the romantic/amorous action rather than the general showy behavior).

Notes on Meaning

Connotation: "Làm đỏm" typically carries a slightly negative or critical connotation. It often suggests the behavior is unnecessary, excessive, or not genuine. It can be used playfully among friends but may be derogatory in other contexts.
Gender Association: While not exclusive, the word is most commonly used to describe female behavior, reflecting traditional gender stereotypes.
Difference from "làm duyên": "Làm duyên" also means to act charmingly but can have a more neutral or even positive connotation of natural or graceful charm. "Làm đỏm" leans more towards artificial or deliberate showiness.