Definition

1. Adverb:

   • Stealthily, furtively, sneakily: Doing something in a secretive manner so that others do not see or know. It describes the covert nature of an action.
   • On the sly, in secret: Performing an action discreetly or clandestinely.

2. Verb (less common, colloquial):

   • To sneak, to slip: To move or enter somewhere quietly and secretly. This usage is similar to "lẻn".

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • Nó lén nhìn qua cửa sổ. (He/she sneaked a peek through the window.)
  • Đứa trẻ lén lấy cái bánh trong tủ. (The child stealthily took a cake from the cupboard.)
  • Họ nói chuyện lén với nhau. (They talked to each other furtively.)

• Verb:

  • Tên trộm lén vào nhà lúc nửa đêm. (The thief sneaked into the house at midnight.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lén lút": This is a common reduplicative form (từ láy) that intensifies the meaning of secrecy and stealth. It means "in a very stealthy, furtive, and sneaky manner".

  • Hành động lén lút của họ bị phát hiện. (Their sneaky actions were discovered.)

• "Đánh lén" / "Bắn lén": To attack or shoot someone from behind or in a surprise, stealthy manner, often considered cowardly.

  • Kẻ phản bội bắn lén chỉ huy. (The traitor shot the commander from behind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lén lén (reduplication): An emphatic form meaning "very stealthily", similar to "lén lút".
• Lẻn (verb): A close synonym meaning "to sneak" or "to slip into/out of" a place. While "lén" often describes the manner of an action, "lẻn" is primarily a verb for the act of sneaking.
  • Cậu bé lẻn ra khỏi phòng. (The boy sneaked out of the room.)

Synonyms

• Vụng trộm: Clandestinely, secretly (often with a connotation of doing something wrong).
• Thầm lặng: Silently, quietly (focuses on the lack of sound, not necessarily the intent to hide).
• Giấu giếm: To conceal, to hide (focuses on the act of hiding something).

Related Phrases (Verb + "lén")

• Lấy lén: To take something stealthily, to pilfer.
  • Nó lấy lén tiền của mẹ. (He/she stole money from his/her mother on the sly.)
• Làm lén: To do something secretly/on the sly.
  • Họ làm lén không cho ai biết. (They did it secretly without letting anyone know.)
• Đi lén: To leave or go away stealthily.
  • Nó đi lén từ sáng sớm. (He/she left stealthily early in the morning.)

Related Idioms

• Ăn lén: To eat stealthily, often something one is not supposed to have.
  • Đứa trẻ ăn lén kẹo trước bữa tối. (The child sneaked some candy before dinner.)
• Nhìn lén: To steal a glance, to look furtively.
  • Cô gái nhìn lén chàng trai mình thích. (The girl stole a glance at the boy she liked.)

adj

1. stealthy; furtive; sneaky
   • lén nhìn
     to cast a furtive glance