Definition

1. Adverb (used after a verb): Doing something merely for the sake of appearance, to fulfill a formality, or to meet a minimal requirement, without genuine interest, effort, or thoroughness. It implies a perfunctory, token, or half-hearted action.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Anh ấy chỉ học bài lấy lệ trước khi thi. (He only studied perfunctorily before the exam.)
  • Cô ấy dọn dẹp lấy lệ vì biết sắp có khách đến. (She cleaned up just for form's sake because she knew guests were coming.)
  • Đừng hỏi thăm lấy lệ, hãy thực sự quan tâm đến cảm xúc của cô ấy. (Don't ask just as a formality; genuinely care about her feelings.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm lấy lệ": to do something perfunctorily.
  • Công việc này đòi hỏi sự cẩn thận, không thể làm lấy lệ được. (This job requires carefulness; it cannot be done perfunctorily.)
• "ăn lấy lệ": to eat just a little, often out of politeness rather than hunger.
  • Tôi no rồi, chỉ ăn lấy lệ một chút thôi. (I'm full already, I'll just eat a token amount.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hời hợt (adj): Superficial, cursory. Describes an attitude or action lacking depth.
  • Cô ấy có thái độ hời hợt với công việc. (She has a perfunctory attitude towards her work.)
• Qua loa (adj/adv): Cursory, slapdash. Similar to "lấy lệ" but can also describe something done hastily and carelessly.
  • Anh ấy kiểm tra qua loa rồi ký tên. (He checked it cursorily and then signed.)

Synonyms

• Chiếu lệ: For form's sake, as a mere formality. Often used in more formal or bureaucratic contexts.
  • Cuộc họp chỉ được tổ chức chiếu lệ. (The meeting was only held as a formality.)
• Đại khái: Roughly, approximately. Can imply a lack of precision or detail, similar to a perfunctory approach.
  • Anh ấy giải thích đại khái thôi. (He explained only roughly.)

Related Idioms

• Cưỡi ngựa xem hoa: Literally "to view flowers while on horseback." It means to do something superficially, only skimming the surface without going into depth, similar to acting "lấy lệ."
  • Đi tham quan kiểu cưỡi ngựa xem hoa thì chẳng học được gì. (Touring in a cursory, superficial way won't teach you anything.)
• Nước đổ đầu vịt: Literally "water poured on a duck's head." It means advice or criticism that has no effect, often because the listener is indifferent or only pays token attention ("nghe lấy lệ").
  • Nói với nó như nước đổ đầu vịt thôi. (Talking to him is like water off a duck's back.)

1. for form's shake, perfunctorily