Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Odd (number): Not divisible by two; not an even number.
   • Extra, fractional (part of a round number): An amount left over after a round number; a fractional part, often following a round number.
   • Separate, solitary, individual: Existing or acting alone; not part of a group or pair.

2. Adverb:

   • Individually, separately, in small quantities: In a manner that is not grouped or bundled; one by one or in single units.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Số năm là một số lẻ. (Five is an odd number.)
  • Giá của ngôi nhà là một triệu lẻ năm trăm ngàn đồng. (The price of the house is one million and five hundred thousand dong.)
  • Anh ấy thường đi lẻ một mình. (He often goes alone / by himself.)

• Adverb:

  • Cửa hàng này bán bánh theo hộp, không bán lẻ. (This shop sells cakes by the box, not individually / not in single pieces.)
  • Nếu mua sỉ sẽ rẻ hơn mua lẻ. (If you buy wholesale, it's cheaper than buying retail / in small quantities.)

Advanced Usage

• "lẻ loi" (adjective): Lonely, solitary, isolated. This is a compound word where "lẻ" contributes the meaning of being alone.

  • Căn nhà nhỏ nằm lẻ loi trên đồi. (The small house sits isolated on the hill.)

• "lẻ tẻ" (adjective/adverb): Scattered, sporadic, in ones and twos.

  • Chỉ có vài khách hàng lẻ tẻ ghé tiệm. (Only a few scattered customers visited the shop.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lẻ (noun, historical/regional): A traditional unit of dry measure, equal to one-tenth of an .
  • Một đấu hai lẻ gạo. (One đấu and two lẻ of rice.)
• Bán lẻ (verb phrase): To sell retail.
  • Công ty vừa bán sỉ vừa bán lẻ. (The company both wholesales and retails.)
• Mua lẻ (verb phrase): To buy retail / in small quantities.
• Tiền lẻ (noun phrase): Odd/small change; coins or small denomination bills.
  • Bạn có tiền lẻ không? (Do you have any small change?)

Synonyms

• Lẻ loi, cô đơn: Lonely, solitary (for the "alone" sense).
• Riêng lẻ: Separate, individual.
• Số lẻ: Odd number (mathematical term).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Đi lẻ: To go separately / alone.
  • Đoàn khách đi lẻ, không theo tour. (The tourists are traveling separately, not on a tour.)
• Ăn lẻ: To eat separately / alone (not with a group).
  • Nhân viên có thể chọn ăn chung hoặc ăn lẻ. (Employees can choose to eat together or separately.)

Related Idioms

• Chẵn không ra chẵn, lẻ không ra lẻ: (Lit: Not quite even, not quite odd). Used to describe something that is neither here nor there; unsatisfactory or incomplete.
  • Kế hoạch của họ chẵn không ra chẵn, lẻ không ra lẻ. (Their plan is neither fish nor fowl / is unsatisfactory.)
• Có chẵn có lẻ: (Lit: To have even and odd). To have all aspects or possibilities covered; to be complete or fair.
  • Chúng ta cần xem xét vấn đề cho có chẵn có lẻ. (We need to consider the problem from all angles.)

adj

1. odd; uneven
   • tiền lẻ
     odd money