Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Slightly rippled or wavy: Describing a surface, especially water, that has very small, gentle waves or undulations.
   • Having tiny bumps or pimples: Describing skin or a surface that is covered with very small, raised spots or texture.

2. Verb (to be lăn tăn):

   • To ripple gently: The action of forming small, gentle waves.
   • To be covered in tiny bumps: The state of having small, raised spots appear.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Mặt hồ lăn tăn trong gió. (The lake surface is slightly rippled in the wind.)
  • Da em bé nổi lên lăn tăn. (The baby's skin has broken out in tiny bumps.)

• Verb:

  • Nước lăn tăn khi có gió thổi nhẹ. (The water ripples gently when a soft wind blows.)
  • Ngực bệnh nhân bắt đầu lăn tăn những nốt sởi. (The patient's chest began to show tiny measles spots.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe subtle textures or movements that are fine, small, and often repetitive.
  • Cảm xúc lăn tăn: A metaphorical use describing faint, lingering, or rippling emotions.

    • Nghe tin ấy, lòng tôi cứ lăn tăn mãi. (Hearing that news, my heart kept feeling uneasy/rippling.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gợn lăn tăn (v): to form tiny ripples.
  • Mặt nước gợn lăn tăn. (The water surface forms tiny ripples.)

Synonyms

• Rippled: Having a wavy surface.
• Pimply: Covered with small pimples or bumps.
• Undulating: Moving with a smooth, wavelike motion.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lòng dạ lăn tăn: To feel unsettled, anxious, or have nagging thoughts.
  • Việc ấy làm tôi lòng dạ lăn tăn cả ngày. (That matter made me feel unsettled all day.)