Definition

Verb: - To bustle; to be busy in a fussy, restless, or unproductive way: Describes moving around or acting in a constantly busy, hurried, and often ineffective manner. The activity appears energetic but lacks purpose or yields little significant result.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy cứ lăng xăng trong bếp suốt cả buổi mà bữa tối vẫn chưa xong. (She has been bustling around in the kitchen all evening, yet dinner still isn't ready.)
  • Đừng có lăng xăng ra vào làm phiền người khác. (Don't bustle in and out bothering people.)
  • Nó chỉ lăng xăng tỏ vẻ bận rộn chứ chẳng làm được việc gì ra hồn cả. (He's just bustling about pretending to be busy; he hasn't accomplished anything substantial.)

Advanced Usage

• "lăng xăng lăng xăng": A reduplicated form emphasizing the continuous, repetitive, and fussy nature of the activity.
  • Cả ngày nó lăng xăng lăng xăng từ phòng này sang phòng khác. (All day long, he's been constantly bustling from one room to another.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lăng xăng (adjective form): Sometimes used descriptively to characterize a person or their behavior.
  • Tính nó lăng xăng lắm. (He has a very fussy and bustling nature.)
• Lăn xăn (adj/verb): A near-homophone meaning curly (for hair) or to be entangled. Do not confuse with lăng xăng.

Synonyms

• Tất bật: To be busy, occupied (can be productive or unproductive, but less negative than ).
• Bận rộn: To be busy, occupied (neutral or positive connotation).
• Rối rít: To be flustered, in a flurry (emphasizes confusion more than movement).

Notes on Meaning and Connotation

The word lăng xăng carries a generally negative or dismissive connotation. It criticizes activity that is more about visible motion and appearing busy than about being efficient, purposeful, or achieving results. It often implies the activity is annoying, unnecessary, or ineffective.

verb

1. to bustle