Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Frigid; frosty; cold: Describes an attitude, behavior, or manner that is deliberately distant, unfriendly, lacking warmth, or showing a lack of interest or affection.
   • Indifferent; lukewarm; cool: Characterizes a reception or treatment that is not welcoming or enthusiastic, marked by a noticeable absence of warmth or cordiality.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy đối xử với tôi rất lạnh nhạt. (She treats me very coldly.)
  • Anh ấy chỉ đáp lại bằng một cái nhìn lạnh nhạt. (He only responded with a frosty look.)
  • Buổi tiếp đón diễn ra khá lạnh nhạt. (The reception took place in a rather lukewarm manner.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "lạnh nhạt" often implies a conscious or intentional withholding of emotional warmth, more severe than simple shyness or quietness. It suggests a relational cooling or a deliberate emotional distance.

Variants and Related Words

• Lạnh lùng (adj): cold, aloof, unfeeling. Often emphasizes an internal emotional coldness more than "lạnh nhạt", which focuses more on outward behavior.

  • Giọng nói của cô ấy nghe thật lạnh lùng. (Her voice sounded truly cold.)

• Hờ hững (adj): indifferent, unconcerned, apathetic. Focuses more on a lack of care or attention rather than active coldness.

  • Anh ta tỏ ra hờ hững trước lời cầu xin của họ. (He appeared indifferent to their pleas.)

Synonyms

• Cold: lacking affection or warmth.
• Frigid: very cold in manner.
• Frosty: unfriendly and cold.
• Aloof: not friendly or forthcoming; distant.
• Indifferent: having no particular interest or sympathy.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Thái độ lạnh nhạt: a cold/frigid attitude.

  • Thái độ lạnh nhạt của sếp khiến nhân viên lo lắng. (The boss's cold attitude made the employees anxious.)

• Đón tiếp một cách lạnh nhạt: to receive someone in a lukewarm/cool manner.

  • Vị khách quan trọng đã bị đón tiếp một cách lạnh nhạt. (The important guest was received in a cool manner.)

adj

1. frigid; frosty
   • câu trả lời lạnh nhạt
     frosty answer